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Friday 10 October at 6.30 p.m.

NATIONAL CONSERVATORY REGIONAL PIERRE COCHEREAU
AUDITORIUM JOSEPH KOSMA: Official Opening Ceremony

SOUTH INDIA CLASSIC DANCE SPECTACLE

INTRODUCTION TO THE EVENINGMaster of Ceremonies:Margherita MARINCOLA

Trained at the Arrigo Pedrollo Conservatory of Music in Vicenza (Italy), at the Genoa National Theatre (Italy) and at the Academy of Theatre Arts in Mumbai (India). It works with theCompany Le Navire, with actor and director Mamadou Dioume in Italy and with the Biennale d'Art Contemporain Kochi-Muziris in India. In 2021, his directing ofEcuadorDr. Henri Michaux, winner of the 1st National Student Theatre Prize. The show is « heartbeat » RFI Latin America at the Festival d'Avignon OFF 2022.

LIGHTING THE LAMP(Nilavilakku)
According to tradition in India, lighting a lamp is a ritual of good augurs.

TRADITIONAL DANCE THIRUVATIRAKALIBy Indian art
It is a dance performed by groups of women singing and striking hands in circles around the lamp, in order to bring happiness in marriages.

Photo credit:Sanjit Debroy

MOHINIATTAM CLASSIC DANCE SPECTACLE

ByBrigitte CHATAIGNIERandThomas VO VAN TAO

The Mohiniattam is a sacred dance practiced in the southwest of the city.India, mainly in Kerala.The term Mohiniyattam comes from wordsMohiniwhich means « the woman who charms the sight » andattamwhich designates the grace of movements. Thus, « Mohiniyattam » can be translated as « enchantment dance ».
It is an art that combines gestureal theatre, mime, dance, music and singing.
It is a dance with elegant figures loaded with symbols, characterized by the breadth and flexibility of movements, the softness of curves and the grace of expression and accompanied by carnatic music and singing.

Photo credit:Nathalie Durham


Carnatic song and Tanpura : Emmanuelle MARTIN

Today it is a reference in France and Europe in the field of traditional and sacred classical music of southern India, carnatic music.

It is a true initiatory journey that she lived for 10 years in Chennai, India, where she devoted herself to learning this music with one of the greatest masters of this tradition, Shri T.M Krishna.
Since returning to France in 2014, she has travelled between India, Europe and the United States, where she has given concerts, shared this art and continued her own practice.

« Karnatic music touches us because it has a very subtle sacred dimension.
It creates in us an undefinable openness by the senses. »

Photo credit:Olivier Charlet

Mridhangam:Balakumar PARAMALINGAM

It is a reference in Europe in the art of percussions of South India and Konnakol, the vocal rhythmic language of the carnatic tradition.
Trained from childhood by his father, the late Sinnathamby Paramalingam, he perfected his art with Maestros such as Karaikudi R. Krishnamurthy, A. S. Ranganathan and Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam.
His journey, combining demand and openness, led him to collaborate with major figures such as Dr. L. Subramaniam, Kalaimani Suryaprakash, U. Rajesh, Tejendra Narayan Majumdar, Sanju Sahai, Tanmoy Bose, Mohanapriyan Thavarajah, Methil Devika and Srilakshmi Govardhana.

Carnatic violin:Pragash PARAMESWARALINGAM

Pragashis a violinist from Paris, France. He started his career in carnatic music at the age of 8, under the direction of his guru Sangeetha Booshanam Komala Kandhaya. He also continues art with the famous violinist and singer Akkarai S. Subhalakshmi.