Gopika Varma looks ahead . . .

Gopika Varma from Chennai who runs the Dasyam academy for Mohinattam is a regular at the Natyanjali dance circuit. And she and her dancers were here on Day 3 of the Natyanjali in Chidambaram.

She stayed over here for a day to be at the recital of one of her sishyas, Revathi Ilango from Australia.

Catching up with Gopika after a group rehearsal on Saturday, the dancer who now runs three academies in Chennai - in Adyar, in Anna Nagar and a newly opened one on OMR, Sholinganallur.

And its about the newest space that Gopika is excited about - the 4500 sq ft space not only is for Mohiniattam training but also holds classes in art, Western classical music and theatre. And it seems to be filling up because it is one of its kind in that growing part of the city, a IT hub now.

Gopika recalls the time when she began to teach Mohiniattam in the city. "There wasn't anything of this dance form then but now we have hundred plus girls who have learnt the dance," she says.

Photos of the group performance and of Gopika with Malaysia based dancer Sutha Nair seen backstage.