Training in Performing Arts
Kalamandalam offers special training in the performing arts taught here to aspirants from India and abroad. Those who are interested can send application and C.V. to Registrar, Kalamandalam. Preferably the applicants should have instinct for music / dance, either classical or contemporary. Registrar, Kalamandalam, will scrutinize the application and the eligible candidates will receive Admission Letters. For foreign students, who wish to have training for over four months, student visa is a must for joining Kalamandalam under our Special Training Program.(For complete details and Application Form please see our website-www. kalamandalam.org)
Kalamandalam offers only vegetarian food in its canteen. The canteen is mainly meant for regular students. There is a Govt. Guest House and a PWD Rest House at Cheruthuruthy, two Kms. away from the Kalamandalam main campus. Visitors usually stay there. Rooms are almost always available there. Rent is quite reasonable. There is also a Govt. Rest House in Shoranur, the nearest town. In and around Cheruthuruthy, there are quite a few good hotels. There are several Star Hotels in Thrissur where visitors can stay. In less than an hour they will be able to reach Kalamandalam by a bus or a car.
SHORT-TERM PROGRAMMES
Tradition in Dialogue
Living Tradition: Contemporary Resonances
A Vision
Kerala Kalamandalam has long stood as a luminous centre of classical performance traditions. Yet tradition, in its truest sense, is never static — it breathes, adapts, and renews itself across time.
The Short-Term Programmes of Kerala Kalamandalam are conceived as spaces where:
Ø Tradition enters into dialogue with the present
Ø Technique opens into imagination
Ø Discipline coexists with creative freedom
Ø Learning becomes a process of artistic discovery
These programmes invite participants not merely to learn, but to engage, reflect, and reimagine.
The Nature of the Programme
The Short-Term Programme is an immersive and flexible learning experience, designed for:
Ø Practising artists seeking refinement
Ø Students and performers on short academic breaks
Ø International participants on brief residencies
Ø Individuals drawn by a deep love for classical arts
Rather than a rigid academic format, the programme functions as a guided artistic engagement, where learning emerges through practice, observation, dialogue, and reflection.
Programme Structure
The Short-Term Programme is offered across three indicative levels:
- Fundamental
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Placement is based on prior experience and a brief interaction or audition (online/offline), intended to understand the learner’s background and aspirations.
The programme is modular and allows for:
Ø Repertoire-oriented training
Ø Technical refinement
Ø Individual or small group sessions
Ø Discipline-specific immersion
Duration of the Programme
The Short-Term Programme is structured as:
20 days / 60 hours of training
The schedule may be organised in an intensive format, enabling participants to engage meaningfully within a short duration.
Minimum Participation Requirement
The conduct of a Short-Term Course is subject to the availability of a minimum number of participants. Kerala Kalamandalam reserves the discretion to offer, reschedule, or consolidate courses based on enrolment.
Extended Learning Option
Participants who wish to continue their engagement with Kalamandalam beyond the short-term format are expected to undertake a minimum of 15 hours of structured training with the institution.
This provision allows flexibility while ensuring meaningful continuity of learning.
Disciplines Offered
Short-Term Programmes are offered in various disciplines, including:
1.Kathakali
2.Kathakali Music
3.Mohiniyattam
4.Bharatanatyam
5.Kuchipudi
6.Koodiyattam
7.Nangiar Koothu
8.Chakyarkoothu
9.Chenda
10.Maddalam
11.Chutti
12.Thimila
13.Mizhvu
14.Karnatic Music
Eligibility for Admission
Admission to the Short-Term Programme is open to individuals aged 12 years and above.
The programme welcomes learners from diverse backgrounds artists, students, researchers, and enthusiasts united by an interest in classical performance traditions.
Admission & Selection
Admission is based on the proficiency of the candidate, assessed through an audition conducted in offline or in online modes. The purpose of the audition is not exclusion, but appropriate placement within the programme.
Fee Structure
The fee for the Short-Term Programme shall be as follows:
For National Participants:
Ø Admission Fee: ₹5,000/-
Ø Course Fee (15 Hours): ₹10,000/-
For International Participants:
Ø Admission Fee: ₹10,000/-
Ø Course Fee (15 Hours): ₹15,000/-
Additional charges may apply for:
Ø Hostel / Accommodation (if opted)
Ø Any discipline-specific requirements
The detailed fee structure may be revised by Kalamandalam from time to time.
Tradition in Dialogue
At Kalamandalam, tradition is approached as living knowledge.
Participants are encouraged to:
Ø Engage deeply with technique and aesthetic principles
Ø Understand the grammar of performance
Ø Reflect, question, and interpret
Ø Enter into dialogue with the art form
Learning unfolds through exchange between Guru and learner, between inheritance and experience.
Living Tradition: Contemporary Resonances
While rooted in classical foundations, the programme does not seek to confine artistic expression within rigid frameworks.
Participants may:
Ø Explore presentation beyond fixed conventions
Ø Revisit repertoire with renewed sensibility
Ø Engage with contemporary contexts of performance
Ø Discover individual artistic voice within tradition
Here, tradition is not a boundary but a source of renewal.
Learning Ethos
The programme operates on mutual trust and artistic respect.
Participants are expected to:
Ø Engage sincerely in the learning process
Ø Maintain respect for Gurus, peers, and the institution
Ø Approach training with openness and commitment
Attendance is not enforced mechanically; meaningful participation is valued over mere presence.
What Kalamandalam Offers
Kerala Kalamandalam is committed to providing:
Ø Guidance from experienced Gurus
Ø A space for immersive artistic practice
Ø Access to rich performance traditions
Ø An environment that nurtures both discipline and creativity
What Participants Bring
Participants contribute to the learning space through:
Ø Commitment to their practice
Ø Respect for shared artistic culture
Ø Curiosity and openness to exploration
Ø A willingness to engage beyond the surface of technique
Accommodation & Campus Experience
Limited on-campus accommodation may be available, subject to availability.
Separate charges shall apply.
The Kalamandalam campus offers a unique environment where learning extends beyond the classroom into lived artistic experience.
Certification
Participants who engage meaningfully with the programme will be awarded a:
Certificate of Participation / Completion
This certificate recognises artistic involvement and immersion, rather than examination performance.
Administrative Note
Kerala Kalamandalam reserves the right to:
Ø Adjust schedules, faculty allocation, or course structure as required
Ø Reschedule or consolidate courses based on enrolment
Ø Ensure the smooth and meaningful conduct of the programme
All such decisions are guided by the objective of maintaining academic and artistic quality.
An Invitation
Kerala Kalamandalam’s Short-Term Programmes are an invitation
To step into a lineage
To refine one’s craft
To converse with tradition
To discover new artistic possibilities
Here, tradition is not a fixed prism.
It is a living light unfolding, refracting, and renewing itself through every learner who enters its space.
