Mohiniattam dancers nurtured the mesmerising dance form of Mohiniattam in the region of Kerala in southwestern India. The name Mohiniattam literally means `Dance of the Enchantress,` and the Mohiniattam dancers correctly justify the meaning of their dance with a spellbinding effect.

Mohiniattam is derived from the words "Mohini" (meaning beautiful women) and "attam"(meaning dance). Thus, Mohiniattam dancers with beautiful feminine style and surging flow of body movements made this dance style a breathtaking view. The white and gold combined costume, fascinating hairstyle and the greatly attractive movements in medium beat, contribute to this aesthetic effect. The Mohiniattam dancers are characterised with their swaying movements of the upper body. The eyes of these dancers play an important role in accenting the direction of the dance movement.

The mention of this dance form and also the first reference of the Mohiniattam dancers are found in some eighteenth century texts, but the realistic aspect of the style was revived in the reign of Maharaja Swati Tirunal, a 19th century ruler who was a great admirer of this art. Under Swati Tirunal, Mohiniattam took its position as a solo dance tradition. Later, in the twentieth century, the great poet Vallathol established the institute of Kerala Kalamandalam to promote the arts of Mohiniattam and Kathakali. In this Institute, the Mohiniattam dancers and aspirants carried on with further research and thus Mohiniattam was codified and revived. However, ancient texts say, Mohiniattam dance in Kerala developed in the tradition of Devadasi system, which later grew and developed a classical status.

The first Mohiniattam dancer was Kalyaniamma. She also taught in Shantiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore`s invitation. The other notable Mohiniattam dancers and Gurus in Kerala Kala Mandalam were Krishna Paniker and Madhavi Amma. In 1950 Thottasseri Chinnammu Amma, the great Mohiniattam dancer promoted this dance style. It was from these Mohiniattam dancers that new generations of dancers were born. These teachers maintained the classical patterns of teaching following text like Natyasastra and Abhinayyadarpana. As of now, Mohiniattam is a widely known and popular dance form.

Over the past few decades, the popularity of Mohiniattam dancers has been developed and expanded owing to the dedicated Mohiniattam performers who have ensured that this beautiful dance style retains a distinctive uniqueness among the classical dance styles of India. Apart from mythology, Mohiniattam contains a range of themes from nature and the various movements performed by the Mohiniattam dancers express well to these components. Since, Mohiniattam is a solo female dance (in a single costume), where musical tune and the rhythmical swaying of the dancer from side to side and the smooth and unbroken flow of the body movement comprises to be the striking feature, the Mohiniattam dancers are all females. The Mohiniattam dance concentrates mainly on feminine moods and emotions. Usually, the Mohiniattam dancers follow the theme of "sringara" or love. Subtle subjects of love are executed with evocative abhinaya, subtle gestures, rhythmic footwork and soothing music. The legend of Vishnu as "Mohini", (the enchantress) forms the nucleus of Mohiniattam dance performance.

The costume of the Mohiniattam dancers comprises white and gold combined sari with a border of heavy gold brocade and a contrasting blouse with equally gaudy inlay work. The sari is draped in typical Bharatnatyam form, however the lower portion is heavy pleated in semi circular form. The dancer is adorned with traditional gold jewellery of India, including necklaces, bangles, waistbands and anklets. The tinkling of the jewellery produces music as the dancer performs the dance. The dancer`s hair is gathered in a bun that is worn at the side of the head and gorgeously decorated with jasmine flowers. Musical instruments like violin, Veena and Mridangam, accompany Mohiniattam dancers and the dancer gradually narrates episodes from the epics and legends through elegant steps, rhythmic movements of her arms and amazing facial expressions. The Hastha Lakshandeepika is a classical text and offers the details of hands and arms movement in this particular dance form.

The contemporary well known Mohiniattam dancers and teachers are Kalamandalam Satyabhama, Ms. Kanaka Rele, Ms. Bharati Shivaji, Chinnammu Amma, Kalyani Kuttiamma, Kanak Rele, Sunanda Nair, Deepti Bhalla and Bharati Shivaji. Some of the famous Mohiniattam Dancers are Kalamandalam Radhika, Sunanda Nair, Pallavi Krishnan and so on. The Mohiniattam dancers have aptly described episodes from the epics and legends through graceful steps, rhythmic movements of her arms and trained facial expressions.