MARIA-KIRAN

Born in December 1981 at Allahabad, India, she comes to France at age three and starts studying Bharata-Natyam when six at Mandapa Center, first with Kamadev, then regularly with Vidya disciple of K.M.K Saroja from Madras. She also practiced Western classical Ballet for a few years.

In 1994, she presented a performance of Bharata Natyam at the Dance Conservatory in the program "Young Talents" and participated twice to the Youth Festival (organised by the City of Paris), then, in the International Expo-Languages, and various cultural centres. In 1996, she passed her Arangetram at Chidambaram temple under the guidance of Smt K.M.K. Saroja. Then she performed every summer in India for the Alliance Fran  aise : in New Delhi (IIC), Bombay, Trivandrum, on TV for Asianet, and on various occasions in Paris. She participated to several exhibitions and festivals : "When the Gods give a show" at Boulogne-Billancourt, "Pondichery", at Museum Guimet, at the Ris-orangis Festival "Dances and Musics of the Word" (1997), then, for the "Friends of Orient Society ofMenton", in 1998 at the residence of the French Ambassador in New-Delhi, in 1999 at the residence of the Indian Ambassador in Roma, and for the inauguration of the Museum of Asian Arts of Nice (France).

Since 1997, she studies every summer in India under the guidance of Smt Yamini Krishnamurthi, and Smt Jamuna Krishnan for abhinaya. Then, she danced in two movies: "Darshana", by Philippe Lebret, and "Nicolas Le Riche , Star Dancer", by J. Laperrous- saz, for ARTE TV Channel.

In April 99, she won the "Special Award of the Jury", (unanimous) at the Interna- tional Dance competition "Settimana Internazionale delta Danza"  Perugia / Italia) and participated to a festival in Firenze.

In Feb. 2000, she performed at the Basilica Sopra Minerva in Roma and at the Cathedral of Ferentino (in the frame of the Jubilee 2000) a special program based on the Prayers of Mother Teresa choreographed by Vidya.

Seen in Indian press:
"Scintillating Bharatanatyam by Maria-Kiran of Paris"
'...The item "Atta Veerattanam" deserves special mention . This composition, a compila- tion of Thevaram and Thiruvachalam, portrays the Thiruvilayadal of Shiva in eight shrines and describes the "vira rasa" in Him. Particularly impressive was the Sanchari Bhavafor the episodes "Markandeya Paripoalanam and Gajasura Vadham, where the audience were touched by Maria's capacity to comprehend and interpret the nuances of the beauttfUl compositions like a seasoned artiste.
Radha Swamy, ANNA NAGAR TIMES, Madras, 4 August 1996