Kathakali dancers look spectacular.
Kathakali is dance drama
based on stories
from the Hindu religion.

Mr Vasu Pillai of West Croydon
wore this breastplate
to dance the female role of Pudana.

It can take hours
to put on the right make-up
for a part.
The mask shows
how bold and beautiful it can be.

Vasu learnt Kathakali dance
from the age of 13:

"You have to be
in excellent physical shape.
We practised for up to 18 hours a day.
We went to sleep at midnight
and woke up at 4 next morning.
We slept in the guru's house.
I returned home only to eat.

Make-up is extremely important.
Three hours are needed
to make up a dancer playing Ravana,
the demon in the Ramayana.
And four musicians are required;
a cymbal player,
two drummers
and a gong player
who sings the story."

Kathakali is dance drama.
Two epic Hindu stories are performed.
They are called the Mahabharata
and the Ramayana.

Kathakali is very popular
in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Vasu Pillai grew up there.
He started to dance
when he was just 13.
Dances in his village could last
from 10 at night
until six in the morning.

Vasu kept dancing
when he moved to Singapore
and then to Croydon.

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CR9 1ET
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