Thanjavur Heritage

Thanjavur, A town situated in Tamil Country in the South of India
Thanjavur, A mecca for artistic traditions
Thanjavur, A Great Temple, a jewel in the crown of Chola Art
Thanjavur, The birthplace of Bharata Natyam
Thanjavur, A meeting-place, a living place, a teaching place for me, my dance master and his disciples.
Thanjavur, A long tradiion, a lifestyle, an artistic family. The fifth celebration mirrors a heritage of beauty, deep fondness and work.
I would like to aknowledge the assistance of the following people : Guru, Master, teacher, students, friends, members of this audience, Laurent my husband, Madame Lapchin the Mayor of Vienne-en-Arthies who welcomed and promoted us. Without all of you, Thanjavur Heritage wouldn't have come into being.

Lastly, gratefully and fondly than Monique and Max Brandily. They were extremely open-minded about the world and its varied cultures, which enabled me to get receptive to other ways of thinking, other musics, other dances... Max passed away lat winter but his photographs exhibited here tell of him. He was a major figure in dancing.

And now, make way for the celebration, in the universal joy brought about by dancing.

Maya

From time immemorial,
Shiva has danced and there will be no end to this dancing
Look at our hands speaking
(approaching the mudra)the sun is rising, the flowers are opening, their smell is sweet.The butterflies are flying, the bees are gathering pollen, they are making honey.
The sun is rising, the moon is coming into sight. It's dark, the flowers are closing.
I have prepared four offerings or you : milk, honey, cakes, dhal and I am bringing them to you, elephant-headed Ganesh.
You teach me the three sacred arts : poetry, music, dancing.
An approach to abhinaya and mudra through dancing Subramaniam goes over the world on peacockback.
He is Shiva's son, he removes all difficulties.
The temples dedicated to him crown six hills.
He spears daemons from above and from below.
Valli is his wife for ever. Six temples honour the valorous warrior riding peacock.

A short chronological account

The Bharata Natyam courses started in December 2001, attended by a small group of children and adults. Soon after, very young children asked for participating too. Thus was founded the Babichoux Section (from two). Elder children (the Babars) followed. Then teenagers and adults joined too. In 2005, at the beginning of the first term, boys were welcomes to attend the courses.
The lessons take place every monday in the evening. A training course is proposed to the grown up : it takes place once a year on a sunday and lasts six hours on end.
The students are given a training booklet recapitualting the main points of the course. The booklet constitutes the base of a practical and thoughtful guide already in preparation.
Our teaching isn't restricted to dancing : it approaches tamil culture in particular, and indian thought in general.
The first aim of Thanjavur Heritage Association is to transmit Bharata natyam to all of us within the context of western countries but in keeping with tradition.

All the items have been directly passed on to Maya by Guru Herambanathan in Thanjavur. The music was a local soundtrack registered by the musicians of the Bhavu Pillai School Company.
Choreographic arrangement by Maya for her students.

Exhibition of photographs : Homage to Max-Yves Brandily