Edappal: A graceful Mohiniyattam performance by Kollam native Archa Nishanth, who is eight months into her pregnancy, was a spectacle that aroused a mixed feeling of awe and fear in the minds of the audience at Vallathol Vidyapeedam dance school the other day. 

Archa Nishanth, a Mohiniyattam diploma student at the Nritya Kalakshetra, under the Vallathol Vidyapeedam Trust, performed the dance as part of her examination. She is a student at the Kochi sub centre of the Vidyapeedam and travels from Kollam to Kochi weekly to attend classes for the past year. 

Archa also runs a dance academy, ‘Nadanam’ at Kalluvathukkal in Kollam. Even during pregnancy, she continued to practice Mohiniyattam and never missed her classes. She is also the mother of two kids.  

It may be noted that dancing during pregnancy can be safe for many women, but it depends on individual circumstances. A pregnant person should consult with her healthcare provider to ensure it's safe for both mother and baby.