ALA brings to your city

ALF 2022

Art & Literature Festival

Art & Literature
Festival

ALF 2022 - Art & Literature Festival 2022 is a celebration of Kerala’s vibrant artistic and literary culture in North America. Organized by the cultural collective ALA - Art Lovers of America in four locations across the United States, ALF 2022 features an ensemble of leading artists, writers & performers such as Benyamin, Balachandran Chullikad, Methil Devika, Roshni Pillai and Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom.

In its inaugural edition, ALF 2022 is an earnest attempt to feature the plurality of Kerala’s progressive and secular ethos as India celebrates 75 years of independence from colonial rule. Join this conversation in person or virtually in a city near you.

  • Chicago

    17, 18 September

  • New Jersey

    24, 25 September

  • San Francisco

    1, 2 October

  • Seattle

    8, 9 October

Artists & Speakers

Speaker

Dr. Methil Devika

Methil Devika is a Mohiniyattam exponent and a trailblazer in her field. She has won several state, national and international awards. Her docu-feature “The Serpent Wisdom” was voted into the contention list of the Oscars in 2018.

Speaker

Balachandran Chullikkad

Renowned poet, lyricist and actor. Highly regarded and influential poet of our generation, recognized actor and skilled orator.

Speaker

Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

Two time recipient of Kerala Sahitya Academy Award . He is an author, critic and above all a skilled orator.

Speaker

Benyamin

Indian Novelist and short story writer shot to prominence with his best seller “AaduJeevitham (Goat Days)” with hard hitting story about an abused migrant worker in Saudi Arabia.

Speaker

Roshni Pillai

Roshni has trained in both male and female characters in Kathakali under Gurus Sri Late Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan and Sri.Kalamandalam Keshavan Namboothiri. She actively performs in various stages across the US and Kerala alongside leading Kathakali artists.

Event Schedule

  • Chicago

    17, 18, Sept. 2022

  • New Jersey

    24, 25, Sept. 2022

  • San Francisco

    01, 02, Oct. 2022

  • Seattle

    08, 09, Oct. 2022

Day 01 - 17 September 2022
Venue: Harper College, 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Historical event photo exhibition

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

Day 01 - 24 September 2022
Venue: Dolan Performance Hall in Annunciation Center, College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Rd, Morristown, NJ 07960

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

Day 01 - 01 October 2022
Venue: Performing arts center at Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Rd, Atherton, CA 94027

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

Day 01 - 08 October 2022
Venue: Renton Ikea performance center 400 S 2nd St, Renton, WA 98057

1.30 pm

Inauguration

2.15 pm

Aksharam അക്ഷരം

  • Dr. Sunil P Ilayidom

    2.15 pm - 3.00 pm

  • Balachandran Chullikkad

    3.10 pm - 3.45 pm

  • Benyamin

    4.00 pm - 4.30 pm

  • Combined Interactive Session

    5.00 pm - 6.30

Break 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm

7.30 pm

Mandapam മണ്ഡപം

  • Mohiniyattam (Dr. Methil Devika)

    7.30 pm - 8.30 pm

  • Kathakali ( Roshni Pillai )

    8.30 pm - 9.30 pm

  • Book Fair

  • Food Vendors




Dance workshop by

Dr. Methil Devika

TOPIC : Esoteric Adaptations in Indian Classical Dance

  • Demystifying Mudras - a look into Vedic and Tantric influences
  • Maneuvering ritualistic rhythms in performance
  • Stillness & Expression

The workshop is conducted by National Awardee, State Awardee and Oscar Contender Dancer and Cultural Interpreter Dr. Methil Devika. It is open to all those interested in the topic irrespective of the physical form they practice. Methil Devika is a renowned Mohiniyattam exponent who is also trained in some of Kerala's ritualistic knowledge systems which she adapts and disseminates across cultures and forms

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FAQ

  1. Who is our target audience? Any age limit ?
  2. Are there any prerequisites to join the workshop?
  3. What would be the duration of the workshop?
  4. What syllabus would be covered during the workshop ? What are the breakdowns of theory sessions? ( adavu, abhinaya, taala, choreo )
  5. Does the audience get to learn a dance piece? If so, what discipline?
  6. What can be expected by the end of the session?
  7. Is recording videos allowed during the workshop?
  8. What policy should we ensure regarding attendees taking a picture with you? Can all take individual pictures or should we make sure all take group pics? This also applies to performance day as well after the event.
  9. If any dance school or organization wants to invite you privately, to their premises what policies do we need to ensure? Are you open for such if they are in compliance with Ala’s policies?
  10. Are you open to giving lectures in universities provided we get the opportunity?
  11. Do you have any dietary restrictions?
  12. Do you need make up artists/helpers to get ready?
  13. If so how many?

Sponsors

Inviting Sponsorships

Please contact alf2022@ala-usa.org / +1 (703) 203-6785

About the Organiser

About

Art Lovers of America

ALA is a collective of the Kerala diaspora in the United States that aims to nurture and promote Kerala’s diverse culture and progressive values.

ALA seeks to provide a platform that stimulates thoughtful, critical dialogue in the global Malayali community and supports far ranging projects in areas like culture, education, disaster relief and development in support of underprivileged and marginalized communities in Kerala.

ALA’s projects includes Malayalam Language Learning program in partnership with Government of Kerala’s Malayalam Mission, Scholarship program for the students from tribal community in Kerala & ALA Care to coordinate charity and other social support needed for people in US and Kerala

Please reach out to secretary@ala-usa.org to learn more about ALA.