Mohanapriyan Thavarajah is a dancer, choreographer, teacher, researcher, designer, curator and writer. He is trained in the Indian classical dance styles of bharatanataym, kuchippudi and mohiniattam. While deeply rooted in tradition with innovative approach to bharatanatyam, Mohanapriyanis recognised as an exceptional performer in the current generation of young male bharatanatyam artists in the world, who has created style distinct to his personality, well- received as “refreshing” by audiences across the world.
He started learning bharatanatyam under the guidance of Smt Subithra Kirubaharan (disciple of Padmashri Adayar K. Lakshman) in Sri Lanka. Following his passion in dance he continued his training as a full-time bharatanatyam dance student at Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts Trichy, under the tutelage of Smt Ogeswari Shanmuganathan (Kalakshetra Alumni & disciple of Smt Neila Sathyalingam, and Smt Sharada Hoffman), where he graduated obtaining gold medals in both Bachelors and Masters degrees in bharatanataym awarded by the Bharathidasan University. He has also completed his MPhil in bharatanatyam at the Tanjore Tamil University, and is currently pursing PhD research in bharatanatyam in India. He has been trained in kuchipudi under the tutelage of Shri Kishore Mosalikanti from India. Mohanapriyan has been mentored by the renowned bharathanatyam dancer and choreographer Smt Priyadarsini Govind.
Taking advantage of his intense style of dancing, Mohanapriyan’s performances are based on traditional repertoire of the form, while extending the technique and devolving new narratives through unique concepts which are thought- provoking, sharing different perspectives. He has travelled widely across the world for his performances at many international festivals, and regularly performs in the Chennai season in India. Mohanapriyan has been awarded many titles and awards in appreciation of his dynamic dance performances around the globe including the Bharatha Kala Mani by Apsaras Arts, Singapore.
Mohanapriyan is the principal dancer and resident choreographer at Apsaras Arts dance company, Singapore. Mohanapriyan shares his passion for dance by writing on dance related topics for leading publications and his maiden book Temple Dance of Apsaras: A Dancer’s View of the Angkor Watbased on his research on the Angkor Wat temple of Cambodia, was launched in 2019.
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