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India's Dance Flourishes in France: A 25-Year Legacy
7 Feb
Summary
- Yearbook marks 25 years, focusing on Indian dance's French influence.
- French attraction to Indian aesthetics fostered widespread dance practice.
- Book honors pioneers M.K. Saroja and Mileena, who passed in 2022.
Ashish Mohan Khokar's dance yearbook, Attendance, reaches its silver jubilee by exploring the profound influence of Indian dance in France. This significant milestone is marked by a special edition dedicated to this cross-cultural artistic connection, sustained for 25 years without corporate or government funding.
The yearbook delves into how French culture's artistic and intellectual leanings have fostered a genuine attraction to India's classical dance traditions. Artists like M.K. Saroja, Khokar's mother, and French pioneers such as Mileena, who established the Centre Mandapa in Paris, played crucial roles in this artistic exchange. Mileena received the Padma Shri in 2019.
This special edition pays homage to M.K. Saroja and Mileena, both of whom passed away in 2022. The book also features contributions from prominent Indian dancers detailing their experiences in France, alongside accounts of French practitioners of Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Kathak, and Mohiniattam.
