Jayachandran P

🪔 About

Jayachandran Palazhy is a pioneering figure in contemporary Indian dance, best known as the founder and artistic director of the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Bangalore, India. Born in Thrissur, Kerala, he was exposed to temple festivals and traditional dance from a young age, secretly imitating dancers. His early training included traditional Indian dance and the martial art Kalaripayattu. Palazhy's quest for a contemporary movement language led him to work with experimental theatre company Koothu-p-Pattarai and renowned dancer Chandralekha. A pivotal moment came when he witnessed American choreographer Merce Cunningham's abstract work, inspiring him to seek his own dance metaphor. He subsequently moved to the London Contemporary Dance School, where he trained in ballet and capoeira, gaining insights into movement and space. After his training abroad, Jayachandran Palazhy established the Imlata Dance Company, which garnered several awards and toured extensively. He returned to India with a vision to meld Indian metaphor with Western abstraction, leading him to found the Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts in Alwaye in 1992, later based in Bangalore. Attakkalari has since become a leading institution for contemporary dance in India, focusing on research, education, and creation. Palazhy developed a unique curriculum, including the Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media, which is the only program of its kind in India and incorporates diverse forms like contemporary dance, ballet, Bharatanatyam, and Kootiyattam. Under his leadership, Attakkalari has launched the Attakkalari India Biennale and fostered international collaborations. He continues to choreograph and direct, with recent works including "Sthavara Jangama" in 2022, exploring the relationship between humans and spaces. His teaching legacy is significant, with many active Indian dancers having studied at Attakkalari.