about divya warier

about

Divya Warier: A Force of Change Through Dance

Divya Warier, is a leading practitioner and dedicated inheritor of Sougandhika style of Mohiniyattam, trained under Dr. Neena Prasad. She is the Trustee at Warrier foundation, founder of Avyukt Arts and a sought after Mohiniyattam performing soloist. Alongside her accomplishments as a dancer and choreographer she is recognised as a force of change for culture through her initiatives in arts. She is credited to bring Mohiniyattam at varied avenues for the first time & also volunteers at several not for profit organisations and aims to contribute to society through her art.

About Divya Warier

Divya Warier, a leading practitioner and dedicated inheritor of Sougandhika style of Mohiniyattam, is an embodiment of talent and dedication. Apart from being a sought-after Mohiniyattam performing soloist, she is also a choreographer, and a social activist. She has been recognised as a force of change for culture through her initiatives in arts. Credited with bringing Mohiniyattam to varied avenues for the first time, she also volunteers at several not-for-profit organisations and aims to contribute to society through her art. She is the Trustee at Warrier foundation and the founder of Avyukt Arts.

Education

  • Masters in Performing arts (MFA) - Sastra university, Thanjavur under Dr. Padma Subramaniam
  • MBA in Finance & Marketing
  • Bacherlors in Business Management (BMS)
  • Certified dancer and teacher in Sougandhikam Kalari of Mohiniyattam

Training

Divya Warier has been undergoing extensive training in Mohiniyattam under the renowned dance exponent, research scholar & Guru Dr. Neena Prasad in the Soungadhikam Kalari for the past 10 years.

She was initiated to a very rigid and traditional Bharatanatyam & Mohiniyattam system under Guru. Jayashree Nair - Upaasana Acadamey from the age of 3.

She is continuing her Special Cross-Mentorship under veteran Odissi danseuse Guru. Sharmila Biswas exploring different aspects of Natyashastra and horeography for the past 4 years.

She has also been regularly training under Guru G. Venu and has completed 3 Phases of Navarasa Sadhana workshop.

She has completed training in one margam along with many more Items under Guru Kshemavathy Teacher in Mohiniyattam and Smt. Shobana Balachandran in Bharatanatyam.

Divya is blessed to have had the privilege to complete her Bharatnatyam Arangetram under the guidance of the Legendary Nattuvanar Guru T. S. Kadirvelu Pillai and to have learnt from him.

She has done her arangetram in Bhartanatyam at an young age of 12 years followed by her Arangetram in Mohiniyattam. Later she also underwent rigorous training and presented her full margam under Dr. Neena Prasad to receive her Teachers Training Certificate in Soungandhikam Kalari. She has also trained in Nattuvangam under Vidwan Kaleeswaran Pillai, son of Late Guru. Kadirvelu Pillai.

Curations & Workshops

Pratiroop - a unique Cross mentorship program:

DIndia’s First ever Cross- fellowship curated during Covid to bring professional artists from different Indian classical dance styles and encourage them to create unique work under the mentorship of Stalwarts from the Indian Classical dance Mentors: Anupama Kylash, Vyjyanthi Kashi, Prerena Shrimali, Neena Prasad, Sharmila Biswas, Rama Vaidhyanathan.

Obeservers: Geeta Chandran, Aruna Mohanty, Daksha Mashruwala, Rajashree Warrier.

  • Season 1 – Oct 2020
  • Season 2 – Nov 2021
  • Season 3 – Dec 2022
  • Season 4 – Dec 2023

Dance Residency – Learn, Reflect & Pause - An educational Cross- learning initiative opening up for artists across all Indian classical dance forms at affordable pricing with an intention to be inclusive.

Season 1- Nov 2022

Mentors: Dr. Neena Prasad, Rama Vaidhyanathan & Sharmila Biswas

Season 2 - Dec 2023

Mentors: Rama Vaidhyanathan, Aditi Mangaldas & Sharmila Biswas

Dance Reflections - a workshop series conducted in Mumbai and Kerala to promote Mohiniyattam

Achievements as a Young Artist

Divya is a Graded artiste of Mumbai Doordarshan in both styles Mohiniyattam & Bharatnatyam

Assistant Chorographer for National award winning song

Ghoomar- from Padmavat Movie and is a Indian Film & Television Choreographers Association Member, also working in Bollywood Industry as a Classical dance expert.

Trustee of Warrier Foundation, an NGO , running a Vedic school and supporting more than 3000 underprivileged kids over the past 14 years.

Founder and dance teacher at Avyukt arts- Imparts Dance training for more than 250 Students across Mumbai, Kerala, Usa & Dubai.

Performed across India and Abroad having more than 1000 stage & TV performances to her credit.

Founding member of Natya quotient- A Collective of artists based in Mumbai coming together with an intent to engage in artistic initiatives involving Indian Classical Dance

Achievements in Mohiniyattam

Immersion In Mohiniyattam in Praveshika Level-Developed An ELearning Module to teach Sougandhika Kalari for the Art of Living Foundation headed by Sri Sri- Ravishankar- 2022

Assisted Guru. Dr Neena Prasad for Natyasutra Online E-learning platform and for a Lecture- Demonstration at Sree Sankara College and many more.

Represented Mohiniyattam for NCPA'S Vistaar Series- an art outreach programme.

Conducted Workshop to promote Mohiniyattam for Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural center(NMACC) for their Bachpan special Monsoon series 2023.

Only Mohiniyattam artist to be Commissioned by Serendipity festival – Goa( 2023) ; for a Collaborative experimental work alongside a Kavad Folk Artist from Rajasthan.

Empanelled by Spic Macy and conducted WDs in Mohiniyttam for SPICMACY.

A part of the Sougandhika Dance ensemble under Dr Neena Prasad

Creating a representation for Mohiniyattam at corporate events like Hitachi group World convention held in Mumbai & Zee Network, etc

Warrier foundation - Cultural Initiatives

Avyukt Arts – Dance school in Mumbai started in 2012 – Imparting Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam dance class along with special workshops for students from marginal sections of the society. Providing Dance education along with 4 Assistant teachers to more than 250 students in Mumbai and Kerala.

Vedic Pathashal and Gurukul at Panvel, Mumbai - A Gurukulam school under Ujjain University imparting the traditional vedic education system.

Dance for a cause - A Fundraising Classical dance festival since 2014 for promoting Indian classical dance and creating new audiences.

Supporting various Dance festivals and classical artists in Mumbai since 2012 for hospitality, logistical support, conducting workshops etc.

Art reach programs : Conducting dance workshops at nearby schools and in Kerala and Mumbai along with Yoga and meditation class.

Notable Performances as Professional Artist

Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural center (NMACC)- The Cube, Mumbai 2023

33rd Raindrops festival, SamVed Society, Mumbai , 2023

Kalaghoda festival, Mumbai 2023

Khajuraho Dance Festival 2023

Kinkini Dance Festival of Dr. Sandhya Purecha

Soorya festival – Thiruvananthapuram- 2024

Mulam festival- A National Seminar & Dance festival, Supported by Ministry of Culture, Mysore, 2023

Prasavitri-Alka Jalan Foundation, Kolkata, 2023

Nishagandhi- Regatta 50th year celebration, Trivandrum, 2022

Sougandhika Mohiniyattam Kutcheri, Mumbai 2022

Saabras, IGNCA, Azadi ki Amrit Mahotsav, Baroda 2022

Experimental Theatre, NCPA , Pratiroop- 2022 Padmini Festival, Mumbai, 2022

Bharat Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram, 2021 Shashtiabda Mahotsavam, Nrithyotsavam,

The Chembur Fine Arts Society, Mumbai, 2023

Aura Aurangabad ,Cultural tourism initiative of Mahagami, 2021

Miami Counsel for arts- Miami

Scottsdale Dance& Arts Festival- Arizona, Usa

Sur sringar Samsad Mumbai

Nehru Center , Mumbai

International Conference - IIT Mumbai

Brahan Natyanjali- Thanjavur Natyanjali

Choreography and Productions

Divya has choreographed many productions, few of which are Hidimbi - “The Lost Lullaby”- Under the Mentorship of Guru. Sharmila Biswas; Kamadeva- The Duel Within-Under the mentorship of Research Scholar Shri. S. Jayachandran : Temples - Path of Knowledge - Through Bhakti & Gyana ; Asura Navaras – In collaboration with Artists like Satish Krishnamorthy, Pavitra Bhat and many more/ Also worked on traditional Mohiniyattam repertoire items like Cholkettu - Anandabhairavi, Padams, varnam , Raghu pati Raghavan- Thillana and few more.Divya has choreographed many productions, few of which are Hidimbi - “The Lost Lullaby”- Under the Mentorship of Guru. Sharmila Biswas; Kamadeva- The Duel Within-Under the mentorship of Research Scholar Shri. S. Jayachandran : Temples - Path of Knowledge - Through Bhakti & Gyana ; Asura Navaras – In collaboration with Artists like Satish Krishnamorthy, Pavitra Bhat and many more/ Also worked on traditional Mohiniyattam repertoire items like Cholkettu - Anandabhairavi, Padams, varnam , Raghu pati Raghavan- Thillana and few more.

Choreography and Productions

Divya has choreographed many productions, few of which are Hidimbi - “The Lost Lullaby”- Under the Mentorship of Guru. Sharmila Biswas; Kamadeva- The Duel Within-Under the mentorship of Research Scholar Shri. S. Jayachandran : Temples - Path of Knowledge - Through Bhakti & Gyana ; Asura Navaras – In collaboration with Artists like Satish Krishnamorthy, Pavitra Bhat and many more/ Also worked on traditional Mohiniyattam repertoire items like Cholkettu - Anandabhairavi, Padams, varnam , Raghu pati Raghavan- Thillana and few more.Divya has choreographed many productions, few of which are Hidimbi - “The Lost Lullaby”- Under the Mentorship of Guru. Sharmila Biswas; Kamadeva- The Duel Within-Under the mentorship of Research Scholar Shri. S. Jayachandran : Temples - Path of Knowledge - Through Bhakti & Gyana ; Asura Navaras – In collaboration with Artists like Satish Krishnamorthy, Pavitra Bhat and many more/ Also worked on traditional Mohiniyattam repertoire items like Cholkettu - Anandabhairavi, Padams, varnam , Raghu pati Raghavan- Thillana and few more.