Gopika Varma

The ancient Travancore family has been famed down the ages for its patronage of fine arts.Gopika Varma is married into the family to Prince Poorurttathi Thirunal Marthanda Varma,descendent of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal. Gopika came under the direct purview of Kalamandalam Smt.Kalyani Kuttyamma.

In her  words,Guru Kalyani Kuttyamma says,"Like the ambrosia filled in a golden pot,Gopika,trained in Dashavatara,and  the very element in which she underwent training,excel  each other.."

Gopika has performed extensively at various art festivals,sabhas and temples,nationwide and  internationally.Her Mohinyattam is marked by extreme grace and fluidity of movements,transmitting radiance through expressions that at times sigh with  nostalgia,purity and sanctity,while being blessed with geometrical precision and technical finesse.Gopika is very lively in her Nritta-Nrithya elements of Mohinyattam,and her eyes are very  eloquent in communicating the messages of Abhinaya.Love for this graceful and gentle dance of soft rhythm has enabled Gopika to transmit through movements and expressions,her own personal worship of the Divine.

Dasyam

Gopika is running a  Mohiniyattam Dance School named "DASYAM" at Chennai and Bangalore with a vision to promote and develop mohiniyattam dance outside Kerala,to award scholarships to genuine candidates,to provide Teachers Training program in mohiniyattam,to offer medical help to artists and to provide basic facilities to all the performing and non performing artists by conducting annual events and festivals.