World Malayalee Council – Washington DC Province (VA/DC/MD) 2nd Annual Dance Festival

July 17 :
On the evening of July 13th, 2025, the World Malayalee Council (Washington DC province) celebrated 2nd Annual Dance Festival -RHYTHM-2, a festival of music and dance that showcases the rich and vibrant cultural heritage of Kerala. The event took place at the beautifully appointed SV Lotus Temple auditorium in Fairfax, VA, and attracted a diverse and engaged audience from the greater Washington DC area, which includes Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. This year’s dance festival was highlighted by Kerala’s unique and graceful dance form, Mohiniyattam.

The evening began with a warm welcome from the Emcees, Ms. Shreya and Ms. Ammini, followed by a traditional prayer led by Ms. Sathya Menon, which set an auspicious tone for the event. This was followed by a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by WMC President, Vice President Dr.Narayanan Valappil, Mohankumar, Dr.Rajitha Ravi, and entertainment Chair Saroopa Anil. Dr.Jayakumar, . Our President, Dr. Jayakumar Nair, addressed the audience with a few welcoming words, and Mr. Mohankumar Arumugham, delivered an inspiring speech. 

The event was honored by the presence of our chief guest, Kalamandalam Dr. Rajitha Ravi, a renowned Mohiniyattam dancer, scholar, and professor at Kerala Kalamandalam. A versatile performer, Dr. Ravi has received numerous awards highlighting her significant contributions to the field of Mohiniyattam. During the festival, she was honored with a Ponnada presented by Mr. Mohankumar. Dr. Ravi also spoke briefly about Kundalini Pattu and then performed this mesmerizing dance that captivated the audience. Following Dr. Ravi’s performance, Mr. Michel and Karthika, prominent playback singers and film artist, took the stage for a song. This was followed by an impressive classical dance performance by the talented duo, Kalamandalam Ms. Supriya and Ms. Parvathi came all the way from California, who entertained the audience with their captivating display. 

The evening continued with another exquisite dance performance by Ms. Rajeswari and her team, further enhancing the festive atmosphere. A standout performance came from a promising young dancer of Mohiniyattam, Ms. Aswathi, who is following in Dr. Ravi’s footsteps. As the evening progressed, other artists, including Shahi Prabakaran and Anu Gopal with their team, contributed to the vibrant energy, setting the stage for the grand finale, the highlight of the event, a rich and artistic portrayal of Mohiniyattam named “MOKSHA”, featuring Dr. Ravi and her team, including our very own talented Mrs. Saroopa, who is also the WMC entertainment chair. The 40 minute long dance “MOKSHA” portrayed a powerful musical expression of Mohiniyattam while narrating a story from the Mahabharata, the timeless ancient epic from India. The program concluded with a thanksgiving speech by our WMC entertainment chair, Mrs. Saroopa, followed by dinner for all attendees. Overall, the event was well-attended, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the performances throughout the evening.

For more information about the World Malayalee Council, Washington DC Province, please visit the official website:  https://wmc-bwdc.com.