Neena Prasad Explained

Neena Prasad
Birth Place:	Thiruvananthapuram, India
Spouse:	Adv Sunil.C.Kurian
Known For:	Mohiniyattam

Neena Prasad is an Indian dancer.^[1] She is an exponent in the field of Mohiniyattam.^[2] She is the founder and principal of Bharthanjali Academy of Indian Dances in Thiruvananthapuram and Sougandika Centre for Mohinyattam in Chennai.^{[3] [4] [5]}

Early life and education

She pursued dance education, achieving proficiency in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam and Kathakali. After her MA in English Literature, she was awarded a PhD from Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta, for her thesis on "The concepts of Lasya and Tandava in the classical dances of South India-A detailed Study". She was also awarded a post doctoral Research Fellowship from the AHRB Research Centre for Cross Cultural Music and Dance Performance, University of Surrey.^[6]

Her professional training included:

• Mohiniyattam - Kalamandalam Sugandhi – 8 years
• Kalamandalam Kshemavathy – 3 years
• Bharatanatyam - Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman – 11 years
• Kuchipudi - Padmabhushan Vempatti China Satyam –12 years
• Kathakali - Vembayam Appukuttan Pillai – 10 years

Awards

Prasad received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 2007.^[7] She is a recipient of the Mayilpeeli Award.^[8] She also received the "Nirtya Chudamani" Award in 2015.^[9] Received Kerala Kalmandalam Award 2017 (Mohiniyattam) ^[10]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 'Dancers lack professional approach' . thehindu.com . 16 June 2016.
2. Web site: Dancing Queen . thehindu.com . 16 June 2016.
3. Web site: NEENA PRASAD . thehindu.com . 16 June 2016.
4. Web site: Neena Prasad to perform classic Indian dance of Mohiniyattam in Dubai . thenational.ae . 16 June 2016.
5. Web site: An inspiring milieu . thehindu.com . 16 June 2016.
6. Web site: Fellowship from the AHRB Research Centre for Cross Cultural Music and Dance Performance, University of Surrey, UK . artindia.net . 20 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160524170400/http://www.artindia.net/neena.html . 24 May 2016 . dead .
7. Web site: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award: Dance. Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala. 26 February 2023.
8. Web site: Mayilpeeli award for Sugathakumari, Neena Prasad . thehindu.com . 17 June 2016.
9. Web site: Nritya Choodamani. indian heritage.org . 20 June 2016.
10. Web site: Kalamandalam awards announced | Kochi News - Times of India. The Times of India.