Shugame: A Mohiniyattam Recital

The evening will feature the performance of Thomas Vo Van Tao and his disciples. The opening item explores a modern theme on belonging and identity in the traditional framework of Mohiniyattam by Anne Therese and Nikhil Varghese, who are disciples of Thomas Vo Van Tao and Dr. Neena Prasad, respectively. This will be followed by the performance of Thomas Vo Van Tao.

Thomas Vo Van Tao is a leading Mohiniyattam practitioner and disciple of Guru Dr. Neena Prasad. Originally from France, he embarked on his Indian classical dance journey with Bharatanatyam at the age of 12, mastering its intricacies over a decade before transitioning to Mohiniyattam. Under the mentorship of Smt Kalamandalam Hymavathi and Dr. Neena Prasad, Thomas honed his skills, becoming one of the rare male exponents of this traditionally female dance form.

His performances, acclaimed for their grace and fluidity, have captivated audiences globally, including in India, France, Canada, and Sweden. Beyond performing, Thomas imparts his knowledge at the prestigious Mandapa Centre in Paris and leads workshops across Europe. Academically, he holds degrees in History, Hindi, Language Didactics, and Performing Arts, with research on the contemporary history of Bharatanatyam and male performers. His performance repertoire includes NMACC Mumbai, UNESCO Paris, and the Fes Festival of World Sacred Music in Morocco.

Anne Therese Shajan, the Founder, Artistic Director and head trainer at her classical Indian dance and yoga school began her journey of movement through dance from the age of five.

A devoted dancer, she gained her primary training and rigorous practice under the guidance of veterans in their respective classical forms- from Kalamandalam Anuradha for Bharatanatyam and further education from Dr. Neena Prasad and Thomas Vo Van Tao for Mohiniyattam and has performed in multiple stages across India and Germany.

She found her calling in life when she realised that more than a passionate hobby, dance is an expression of her existence and a way of life, where she trusts it to be a medium to release emotions stored within the body and allows it to liberate itself in a way nothing else can. This paved the way for her to pursue her Master of Arts in Mohiniyattam from the reputed R.L.V.College Of Music And Fine Arts in Kerala, India.

From Kerala to Germany, Anne focuses on creating a community that celebrates art and to influence lives through dance and yoga. Her daily practice and devotion to the art forms are a clear indicator of the grounding she withholds within herself to be a constant learner and an exceptional teacher of her craft.

Nikhil Varghese, hailing from Kerala and currently living in Hannover, Germany, is a telecom design engineer by profession. He has been a student of Thomas Vo Van Tao for the past four years and has had the opportunity to perform at Théâtre Mandapa in Paris under his guidance, as well as at the Romanische Keller Theater in Heidelberg. Alongside his passion for dance and the performing arts, Nikhil enjoys learning languages particularly Classical Syriac and pursues sketching and painting as creative outlets. Through dance, he seeks to explore artistic expression, storytelling, and the rich cultural heritage that connects different traditions.

This event is hosted by Team Maargam in cooperation with Moksha School of Dance & Yoga.

Maargam is a member of Freier Theaterverein Heidelberg e.V.