**NIRMALA PANIKER** **NIRMALA PANIKER** is closely associated with the functioning of Ammannur Chachu Chakyar Gurukulam and the revival of Nangiar Koothu at Natana Kairali, Irinjilakuda. A disciple of Kalyani Kutty Amma and Ammannur Madhava Chakyar and Kalamandalam Satyabhama, Nirmala is a Mohiniattam dancer widely travlled. Her well-researched books include *Mohiniyattam- The Lasya Dance* (with G. Venu), *Nangiar Koothu* and *Hand Gestures of Hastalakshana Deepika in Mohiniyattam*. Among the several awards she received, the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Krishnan Kutty Smarak Award are the prominent ones. Kerala is a magnificent treasure-trove of traditional arts. It can proudly claim to have given birth to and preserved hundreds of such art forms, out of which many are still being performed. Among these Mohiniyattam is one of the most important art-forms which won world-wide acclaim. Mohiniyattam is a solo dance form which contains several varieties of expressions (Abhinaya), body postures