The enchanting facial expressions and spellbinding moves of classical dance forms floored Karthika even as a kid. At 10, she made her debut performance at Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy. Now, at 23, Karthika Narayanan has emerged as a dancer of repute in Bharathanatyam as well as Mohiniyattam.
She has performed in Kerala as well as other states and is still pursuing her diploma in Kalakshetra as also her masters in Bharathanatyam from Madras University.
“Dance is my breath,” says the girl who has had many veteran dancers as her mentors. “No one in my family is trained in dance but they are art lovers and are very supportive.” She wishes to do a doctorate in dance as well as set up her own dance school.
She finds the youth festivals double-edged. While they promote art forms, they also foster a competitive attitude which sometimes runs counter to the real aim of art. “The bright side is that it gives exposure to the dancer and the dark side is that it encourages competition alone and not genuine love for dance.”
