Kerala Kalamandalam’s administrative board on Wednesday decided to make all its courses on performing arts gender-neutral.
This will now make male students eligible for admission to courses hitherto reserved exclusively for girls, including mohiniyattam and nangiarkoothu.
“The administrative board decided to make all courses at Kalamandalam gender neutral from the next academic year. Till now, we were admitting only girl students in mohiniyattam and nangiarkoothu courses. From the next academic year, we will be admitting boys to these courses. They can pursue the courses from Class VIII to postgraduation,” Kalamandalam Vice-Chancellor B Ananthakrishnan told The New Indian express.
Considering the lack of patronage for kathakali course among male students, Kalamandalam will forward a proposal to the government to start kathakali courses in schools. Classes will be held six hours a week in schools having enough interested students, said Kalamandalam VC B Ananthakrishnan.
As per the report, the administrative board also decided to start PG courses in mohiniyattam and kuchipudi from the next academic year. Kalamandalam will also start a new course in theatre and performance making which will help students explore opportunities in experimental theatre, participatory performance and three-dimensional lighting.
