Pallavi continued her studies under Guru Bharati Shivaji and later developed a style of her own, which is marked by creativity in her performance. Her skilful choreography has enriched her repertoire and inspired many young dancers to take up the form.

In 1995, Pallavi Krishnan founded the Lasya Academy of Mohiniyattam, based in Thrissur, Kerala. Lasya is a centre for the promotion of and professional training in Mohiniyattam. Her uncompromising teaching has attracted students from all over the world. A recipient of several honours and awards, the latest is the state award for 2008 of the Kerala Sangeet Nataka Akademi, the official academi of the Government of Kerala for the promotion of fine arts, making her the first non-Keralite to get this coveted recognition from the land of the art form (April 2009).

Academic qualifications / training:

• B.Sc. in Bio Science from Burdwan University of West Bengal
• Trained in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam under Guru Kalamandalam Sankarnarayanan.
• B. Mus. in Dance (Kathakali) from Shantiniketan (Viswa Bharati University).
• Two years of intensive training in Mohiniyattam at the Kerala Kalamandalam.
• Specialised training in Mohiniyattam under Guru Bharati Shivaji.

Significant Awards / Honours:

• Kerala State Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 2008
• Sushree award of the Vichar-March, Kolkata, for most outstanding talents in Indian Classical Dance (1991).
• National scholarship from the Government of India for higher studies in Mohiniyattam (1995-1997).
• Fellowship of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to create new dance pieces using traditional Kerala music. (1998).
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Rituranga (2002)
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Salabhanjika (2004)
• Grant of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, to conduct a workshop on Mohiniyattam (2005)
• Production Grant of the Govt. of India, Department of Culture, to choreograph Vikramorvasheeyam (2006)
• Production Grant of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, to choreograph celebrated Kerala poet late Ulloor’s Pingala (2007).
• Grant of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Govt. of India, to conduct a workshop on Mohiniyattam (2008)

Collaborations:

• Pallavi’s collaboration with the renowned scholar and composer, Kavalam Narayana Panikkar, has enriched the repertoire of Mohiniyattam. She has choreographed many of his compositions that employ the ragas and talas (rhythm) of Kerala’s nearly extinct Sopana music.
• Pallavi collaborated with Danse-Kalashas, a well-known dance company based in Montreal, Canada. This project was funded by the SHASTRI INDO-CANADIAN INSTITUTE (2004).

Significant performances

IN INDIA

1. Santiniketan, West Bengal
2. Performance at various centres in Eastern India under the aegis of the East Zone Cultural Centre (EZCC), Kolkata
3. Rabindra Bharati University
4. Soorya Festival, Thiruvananthapuram
5. Nishagandhi Festival of Dept. of Tourism, Govt. of Kerala
6. Mamallapuram Festival of the Govt of Tamil Nadu
7. Malabar Mahotsav (Kozhikode) of State Dept of Tourism
8. Doverlane Music Conference, Kolkata
9. Performance at various locations under the aegis of the South Zone Cultural Centre (SZCC), Chennai
10. Performance at various cities in Kerala and Kolkata under the auspices of the Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy
11. National Dance Festival of the Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, at Goa, Kolkata and Manipur
12. India International Centre, New Delhi
13. World Women’s day celebration festival of Smitalay (Smita Patel Memorial Trust), Mumbai
14. Various Sabhas in Chennai, like Sree Krishna Gana Sabha, Bharat Kalachar, Narada Gana Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts, etc.
15. Natyanjali Festival at Chidambaram Shiva temple
16. National Festival of Dance on the occasion of the inauguration of the year long Platinum jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Kalamandalam (2006)
17. Natya Kala Conference of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
18. Konark Festival of Govt. of Orissa
19. Govt of Kerala’s Festival of Music & Dance celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the formation of Kerala state (2007)
20. National Festival of Dance on the occasion of the concluding ceremonies of the Platinum jubilee celebrations of the Kerala Kalamandalam (2007)
21. Deccan Festival at Hyderabad of Dept. of Culture, Andhra Pradesh
22. Mudra Festival of Dept of Culture, Govt. of Kerala
23. Vasanta Utsav, Bhubaneswar

ABROAD

1. Woodford Festival, Australia (2001)
2. Performances at various locations in Canada including Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto under the auspices of the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) - 2003
3. Toronto International Dance Festival, Performance & Residency - 2004
4. Performances & Workshops in Europe - 2005
   UK - Nehru Centre, London and Rose Bruford College, Kent.
   Poland - Interactions Art Festival, Warsaw.
   Austria - UN Centre, Vienna.
   Switzerland – Art India, Bern.
5. Dhaka, Bangladesh –
   Deputation to Bangladesh as Cultural Ambassador under the aegis of the Indian High Commission, Dhaka, and the ICCR, to popularise the art of Mohiniyattam by giving short-term intensive residencies and performances – 2008.
6. Macau International Arts Festival - May 2008, Macau.
7. Kerala Festival – Doha-Qatar – May 2008
8. Dhaka, Bangladesh – Deputation to Bangladesh as Cultural Ambassador under the aegis of the Indian High Commission, Dhaka, and the ICCR - February to April 2009