Ameena Shanavas

🪔 About

Ameena Shanavas is an accomplished Indian classical dancer specializing in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. Her journey in dance began at the tender age of four when her mother enrolled her in a Bharatanatyam class. Despite coming from a conservative family, her passion for Indian classical dance was nurtured, with her late father, former Congress leader and Member of Parliament M.I. Shanavas, encouraging her to pursue it discreetly. She holds a Master's in Fine Arts (Bharatanatyam) from Bharathidasan University. Her formal training in Mohiniyattam commenced in 2002 under the tutelage of Shyamala Surendran, founder of Kochi-based Dharani School of Performing Arts. As part of the Dharani ensemble, Ameena performed extensively, including tours in Europe and appearances at prestigious Indian festivals such as the Konark Festival and Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival. In 2017, she took a hiatus from dance due to health issues and the demise of her father. Motivated by her husband, Mohammed Hanish IAS, and their daughter, Ameena resumed her dance journey in 2019, becoming a disciple of the veteran Guru Nirmala Paniker. She has since performed Mohiniyattam recitals, including a recent one at Natana Kairali, Irinjalakuda, where she received rave reviews. Her debut Mohiniyattam solo, 'Saparya,' was staged at the Kottichetham Studio Theatre at Natanakairali. She was also featured in the 'Bhaav' dance festival organized by the Kochi municipal corporation, where she presented Mohiniyattam pieces adapted from her guru's desi repertoire. Ameena expresses a desire to open a school in Kochi to teach both Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam.