[Reader-list] Natana Payattu : 10-day Residential Kalaripayattu Workshop for Actors and Dancers

[Arka Mukhopadhyay]

Dear Artists,

        Maruthi Marma Chikilsa and Kalari Sangham, Trivandrum is happy to
announce Natana Payattu - The Actor Warrior, a ten-day residential workshop
on southern style Kalaripayattu specifically designed for actors, dancers
and other body workers, to be held at the Kalari's premises from March 6th
to 15th, 2017. The workshop will be led by Sh. Ajith Kumar, director of the
Kalari and renowned master teacher of the southern (thekkan) form of
Kalaripayattu, and he will be assisted by Arka Mukhopadhyay, physical
theatre performer and director.

Workshop Description:

Kalaripayattu, among the most ancient martial arts in existence today, is
not only a complete system of fighting, but also a way of life with its own
internal systems of breath practice, healing and meditation. As such, it
trains the body on strength, agility, flexibility, balance and
coordination, but also trains the practitioner on breath awareness, rhythm,
enhanced focus and attention, spatial awareness and proprioception;
eventually taking him/her to a place of stillness, a listening/watchful
presence and elevated sell-awareness. It is thus a complete system for the
body, mind and spirit, and is especially valuable to performers. In fact,
the body training of the Kathakali dance-theatre is directly based on
Kalaripayattu, and many other folk dances of Kerala are influenced by it.
In other cultures also, martial arts directly influences the training of
traditional performing arts.

In this workshop, training in the core practices of thekkan style
Kalaripayattu will be supplemented with psycho-physical exercises based on
Kalari, sessions on folk songs and dances of Kerala, and dedicated time for
self-research.


The following aspects of thekkan style Kalaripayattu will be taught:

Chuvattukaal (steps) : movement sequences comprising attacking and
defensive moves that are orientated towards the four cardinal directions
and constitute the basic body conditioning for strength, flexibility and
agility, as well as increasing breath, rhythmic and spatial awareness.

Jodikaal: free-hand fighting sequences with a partner, for speed,
dexterity, attention, focus and connection with the partner.

Basic Acrobatics, as taught within the system of Kalari

Neduvaadi (stick-work) : stick whirling and fighting with a partner, for
body coordination and balance and mental alertness

Schedule:

6:00 AM - tea

6:15 AM to 7:00 AM - personal warm-ups and physical exercises

7:00 AM - collective yoga, stretching and Kalari warm-ups

8:00 AM - Kalari training (basic steps and free-hand fighting)

10:00 AM - breakfast

10:45 AM to 11:45 AM - stick training

1:00 to 2:00 PM - lunch

16:00 - psycho-physical exercises based on Kalari, work on breath awareness
and meditation

17:00 - tea

17:15 - session on folk songs and dances of Kerala

18:15 to 20:00 - time for guided and individual research on applications of
Kalari to theatre and dance

21:00 - dinner

About the Facilitator:

Ajith Kumar started learning at the age of ten from his father and
legendary guru, P. Thankappan Assan. Most times winner of the State
Kalaripayattu championship, he has been teaching and performing all over
India and Europe since the early '90s. As part of the Milon Mela Theatre
Group led by Abani Biswas (associate of Jerzy Grotowski in the Theatre of
Sources), he performed and taught in Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Austria
and many other places, In 2000 he was invited to Valladolid, Spain. In
2001, he performed in the Festival Latitudes Vilette in Paris, France and
also in the summer festival of Rome, Italy. He has subsequently also
performed in Germany and Russia

Associate Facilitator:

Arka Mukhopadhyay is a physical theatre practitioner working since 2003. He
has performed and taught workshops all over India, and also in Singapore,
Spain, Greece and Croatia. Through his initiative, Jyothirgamaya Theatre
Research Laboratory, he carries on deep and sustained research into the art
of the performer and how it can be applied in various human contexts to
understand the self and its connection with the other and the world.

About MMC Kalari:

Maruthi Marma Chikilsa and Kalari Sangham was set up in 1957 by P.
Thankappan Assan Guru, one of the living legends of Kalari, in
Mudavanmukal, Trivandrum, Kerala. Born in 1930, he started training at the
age of ten under three masters : his uncles Kuttiyappi Guru, Eliazer Guru
and Devasahayam Guru, learning also the medical treatments and massages of
Kalaripayattu. Having started performing outside Kerala since 1968, he
became definitively famous in 1982 when a BBC team arrived in India to film
the school. Today, at the 'young' age of 87, he still teaches and practices
and is a source of inspiration to one and all, though his first dedication
is the medical aspect.
For more details visit: maruthikalari.org or facebook.com/maruthikalari
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeLQKeBLbVZscfdc86mFCrA

Pre-requisites: previous training in theatre, dance, martial arts, yoga or
other related practices.

Practical details:

Arrival - March 5th
Workshop - March 6th to 15th
Departure - March 16th

Cost: 12,000 inclusive of facilitation, stay and vegetarian food and
pick-up from/ to the station or airport. Participants will also be given a
stick which they can keep for continued practice. Some need based discounts
can be considered for full-time artists of students

To register, please send an e-mail to the address given below with the
following details:

Full Name
Age
Gender
Phone Number
E-mail
Artistic Discipline, training background and professional experience
Injuries or any other medical conditions

Contact: natanapayattu at gmail.com/ 7411568663 <074115%2068663>

Payment details will be shared on receiving the above information.
Last date for registration is February 28th.

Warm regards,
Arka Mukhopadhyay
for Maruthi Kalari