Jayaprabha Menon

At the age of 4,{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/state-editions/mohiniyattam-exponent-jayaprabha-menon-features-in-baaton-baaton-mein-episode.html|title=Mohiniyattam exponent Jayaprabha Menon features in Baaton Baaton Mein episode|first=The|last=Pioneer|website=The Pioneer}} she was initiated into Bharatnatyam under the tutelage of Guru Kalamandalam Saraswathi at Nrityalaya, Kozhikode, where she was further trained in Mohiniyattam & Kuchipudi. At a very young age she started performing solo and participated in state and national-level competitions, following which she was selected to be a representative from Kerala for the Festival of India in the USSR in 1987. She was also the recipient of a senior scholarship from the Government of India, with a one-year extension for her excellence in performance. She was graded from Doordarshan Kendra, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, for both Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam in the year 1987. During these times she started presenting full-length performances of Bharatnatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi with live music organized by Tapasya, Lions Club, and The Rotary Club, to name a few, for fundraising and charitable causes.

She was married to Jayaprakash Menon, a Hindustani vocalist, in the year 1990 and moved to Vadodara, Gujarat.

After the marriage she got a chance to learn Bharatnatyam under the guidance of Bharatnatyam dancer, academician, dance scholar, composer, and choreographer C. V. Chandrasekhar, the Dean of Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat. In the year 1993, she moved back to Calicut, Kerala, along with her family. She was introduced to Sopana Sangeetham Mohinyattam by Padma Shri Bharati Shivaji and continued under her guidance for four years.

Further, she was groomed and mentored by eminent theatre personality and scholar Padma Bhushan Kavalam Narayana Panicker, who gave her the courage and confidence to explore more into the regional fervor and present contemporary themes within the frame of Mohiniyattam.{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/kochi/jayaprabha-menon-performs-at-nrutholsavam/articleshow/72473037.cms|title=Jayaprabha Menon performs at Nrutholsavam|newspaper=The Times of India |date=11 December 2019}} She is known for her graceful Nritta and aesthetic presentation.{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/celebrating-a-graceful-dance-form/article2997856.ece | title=Celebrating a graceful dance form| newspaper=The Hindu| date=15 March 2012}} She is one of the foremost dancers, who has done innovative choreographic works in Mohiniyattam.{{Cite web|url=https://indianembassyberlin.gov.in/Culture?id=eyJpdiI6InF2SWQ1aXhvelhuSVFibGFEVlFOMVE9PSIsInZhbHVlIjoiSjFqNklsVlRjYWFxTGFNemhrN0xUdz09IiwibWFjIjoiYzA4NDk5MTBiMjNiM2U5MjA0MTMwMTNiN2JjZTU2NDEyZjcxOTg0NGRlOWJlMjRlY2IzODJkMjRkMWY3MjA3YSJ9|title=Welcome to Embassy of India, Berlin(Germany)|website=indianembassyberlin.gov.in}}

She achieved many recognitions for her dance career.{{cite web | url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/2013/Oct/08/devadasi-award-for-jayaprabha-menon-524368.html | title=Devadasi Award for Jayaprabha Menon | date=8 October 2013 }}

• 2000- Laya Lahari, Kathakali & Mohiniyattam combination {{cite web | url=https://www.deccanherald.com/archives/music-and-dance-reviews-124-54277.html | title=Music and dance reviews }}
• 2003- Varshagamana, choreography designed with Kavalam Narayana Panicker
• 2008- Chandrayan
• 2008- Gamanam
• 2009- Aanandam - Mohiniyattam, Kalari & Theyyam
• 2009- Tatvam
• 2019- Shakti
• 2021- Su Shakti

• A grade Artist of Doordarshan Kendra
• 2015- Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award
• 2008- Best Choreographer for the Republic Day Kerala Tablue
• 2005- Empanelled Artist of ICCR{{cite web | url=https://ccrtindia.gov.in/artists_profile/jayaprabha-menon/ | title=Jayaprabha Menon | Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) }}

• Soul-stirring show on day 3 [https://www.newindianexpress.com/odisha/2019/Dec/03/soul-stirring-show-on-day-3-2071215.html Soul-stirring show on day 3]
• Foot loose -Renowned Mohiniattam exponent Jayaprabha Menon mesmerized the city audience with her enchanting performance at the Bhaskar Rao Indoor Auditorium. [https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/foot-loose-4/ Foot loose]
• Dance Series / Guru Jayaprabha Menon / Indian classical dance / Mohiniyattam / online event / Shreshth Kala Sangam [https://creativeyatra.com/events/fb-live-dance-series-mohiniyattam-with-guru-jayaprabha-menon/ FB Live Dance Series Mohiniyattam with Guru Jayaprabha Menon]
• Erasing Borders Dance Festival 2024 [https://iaac.us/erasing-borders-dance-festival-2024/?mc_cid=148a1a0b47&mc_eid=17550cab78#sep23performances Erasing Borders Dance Festival 2024]
• Day 4 of National Classical Dance Festival being organised by NZCC at Chandigarh[https://www.culturenorthindia.com/day-4-of-national-classical-dance-festival-being-organised-by-nzcc-at-chandigarh/ North Zone Cultural Centre – Day 4 of National Classical Dance Festival being organised by NZCC at Chandigarh]
• INDIA@75 FESTIVAL. JAYAPRABHA MENON & COMPANY. 27 SEPT (VALLADOLID) 28 SEPT (MADRID)[https://www.casadelaindia.org/actividades/india75-festival-jayaprabha-menon-company-27-sept-valladolid-28-sept-madrid/ INDIA@75 FESTIVAL. JAYAPRABHA MENON & COMPANY. 27 SEPT (VALLADOLID) 28 SEPT (MADRID)]
• A MESMERIZING MOHINIYATTAM DANCE PERFORMANCE WINS THE HEARTS OF THE AUDIENCE AT JKK [https://sparkpr.in/a-mesmerizing-mohiniyattam-dance-performance-wins-the-hearts-of-the-audience-at-jkk/ A MESMERIZING MOHINIYATTAM DANCE PERFORMANCE WINS THE HEARTS OF THE AUDIENCE AT JKK]
• Jayaprabha Menon & Company: Shakthi [https://teatromadrid.com/espectaculo/jayaprabha-menon-company-shakthi Jayaprabha Menon & Company: Shakthi]
• Kathakali & Mohiniyattam performance [https://photogallery.indiatimes.com/events/bangalore/kathakali-mohiniyattam-performance/articleshow/7070946.cms Kathakali & Mohiniyattam performance]
• Interview with JAYAPRABHA MENON by K.M.NARENDRAN [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1dNjifvBf8 Interview with JAYAPRABHA MENON by K.M.NARENDRAN ( HD Video )]
• Jayaprabha Menon 1 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88lJq1GADFc Jayaprabha Menon 1]
• Jayaprabha Menon gives life for works of Shashtakala Govinda Maraar | Manorama News [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShIxEZYWbF4 Jayaprabha Menon gives life for works of Shashtakala Govinda Maraar | Manorama News]
• Mohiniyattam മോഹിനിയാട്ടം | Jayaprabha Menon | Sree Sankara Dance Fest | DD Thrissur [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naMp4rJtUWk Mohiniyattam മോഹിനിയാട്ടം | Jayaprabha Menon | Sree Sankara Dance Fest | DD Thrissur]
• Rich in profound concepts [https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/rich-in-profound-concepts/article5895581.ece]
• Dancers enthral audience at Konark Dance Festival 2019 [https://www.orissapost.com/dancers-enthral-audience-at-konark-dance-festival-2019/]
• Captivating classical & folk performances enthralled Hyderabadis at this cultural fest [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/hyderabad/captivating-classical-folk-performances-enthralled-hyderabadis-at-this-cultural-fest/articleshow/90731861.cms]

• [https://indiaartreview.com/stories/mohiniyattam-dancers/ Six Mohiniyattam Dancers on the Past, Present and Future of the Art | indiaartreview]
• [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/kochi/jayaprabha-menon-performs-at-nrutholsavam/articleshow/72473037.cms Jayaprabha Menon performs at Nrutholsavam | timesof]{{DEFAULTSORT:Menon, Jayaprabha }}

Category:1967 births

Category:Malayali people

Category:Mohiniyattam exponents

Category:Dancers from Kerala

Category:20th-century Indian dancers

Category:20th-century Indian women artists

Category:Women artists from Kerala

Category:Indian female classical dancers

Category:Living people

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/events/kochi/jayaprabha-menon-performs-at-nrutholsavam/articleshow/72473037.cms india]

• [https://thepatriot.in/listicle/praroha-the-magic-of-classical-dance-forms-38715 | https://thepatriot.in/]
• [https://thehinduimages.com/details-page.php?id=195927848&highlights=DANCER MOHINIYATTAM JAYAPRABHA MENON | thehinduimages]
• [https://www.culturenorthindia.com/day-4-of-national-classical-dance-festival-being-organised-by-nzcc-at-chandigarh/ Day 4 of National Classical Dance Festival being organised by NZCC at Chandigarh | culturenorthindia]
• [https://artindia.net/jaya.html JAYAPRABHA MENON | artindia]
• [https://www.sruti.com/articles/newsnotes/parampara-festival-hampi-vaibhavam Parampara Festival - Hampi Vaibhavam | sruti]
• [https://thesamikhsya.com/special/third-evening-of-the-konark-dance-festival-2019-stellar-performances-of-bliss-and-beauty |thesamikhsya.com]
• [https://www.mediaoneonline.com/kerala/2018/06/01/53872-kanayi-kunjiraman | mediaoneonline.com]
• [https://thepatriot.in/listicle/pancavaktram-a-tapestry-of-indian-classical-dance-31570 | thepatriot.in]

{{Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Winners of Kerala}}

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