Past / Current works, and
The Contact of Cultures


The Iliad
The Epics of Homer

This major work for the stage reinterprets the tragedy of the Trojan War through the Kathakali Dance Theatre, giving the imposing epic fresco of Homer a dimension so far unknown. The Iliad is a creation of Richard Tremblay, with lighting and stage design by Jean-Guy Lecat, costumes by Sivaraman and sound composition by Bruno Paquet.

Dancers
Sadanam Krishnan Kutty, Kalamandalam Vazhengada Vijayan, Margi Vijayan, Kalamandalam Soman, Pradeep Kumar, and Anil Kumar.

Singing
Balachandran and Sajeev

Percussion instruments
Balasundaran, Bruno Paquet, and Raja Narayanan.

The Raga du Moment

SERIES 1998-99
The series provides an opportunity for audiences to meet with musicians who specialize in Indian Classical music. Set up by Bruno Paquet, The Raga du Moment is to make known the classical music of India seen under the angle of creation. The concerts take place in the church of Notre Dame de Grace, in Montreal.

June 13, 99
Talavattam, by Bruno Paquet. Arrangement in the form of concerto, for mridangam and percussions of the kathakali, with the Mahapooram Ensemble.
Percussionists: Trichy Sankaran (mridangam), Bruno Paquet (chenda), Shawn Mativetsky (maddalam), Philip Honsey (ellatalam) and Patrick Graham (chengalam).

March 22
Demonstration of Kathakali Dance and Percussion with the Mahapooram Ensemble and Richard Tremblay. McGill University Faculty of Music.

March 7
Le Raga du Moment - An evening of Indian classical music. The Mahapooram Ensemble and dancer Richard Tremblay presented a Kathakali demonstration. Bernard Matte (Sitar) and Bruno Paquet (tabla) concluded the evening with a concert of Hindustani classical music.



Choreography
Richard Tremblay

"Spatial Dynamics" refer to a group of dances which relate to the movement patterns found in nature - water currents, air circulation, etc. This group gathers choreographies composed over a period of five years, from 1990 to 1995: Cluster of Percolation, The Curve in Snowflake, The Paradox of the Sky on Fire, The Attractor of Ezhikode, and Of Mice and Other Similar Devices.

Esquisse d'un corps divers
As with The Iliad, this contemporary dance choreography relates to, and draws its inspiration from the Contact of the cultures. It was started in 1998 at the time of a creation in residence to the Centre chor�graphique National de Franche-Comt�, in Belfort-Sochaux (France).
Dancers: Anil Kumar and Guillaume Lemasson.


The Rencontres Chor�graphiques

SERIES 1997-98
The first series presented six discussions in which choreographers talked over their creative process and expressed their thoughts on practical aspects pertaining to choreography. Excerpts from guests’ works or, preferably work in progress were performed by one dancer. The series took place in the Maison de la culture of Notre Dame de Grace.
  • September 27: Marie Chouinard (Montreal)
  • October 2: Richard Tremblay (Montreal); hosted by Genevi�ve Dussault.
  • October 9: Serge Bennathan (Toronto)
  • October 18: Rina Singha (Toronto)
  • October 31: Chandralekha (Madras)
  • November 1: Luc Tremblay (Quebec)


Summer Concert Event

SEASON 1997

In the first part of the concert, the musical prelude for percussion instruments and the five bells of the church of Notre Dame de Grace was performed at twilight, prior to a Kathakali dance performance taking place in the church. The audience thus experienced a memorable performance event which added the overpowering combined sound of the bells and the Kathakali percussion instruments, and the costumes of the Kathakali Dance-theatre.

Arrangement and composition by Bruno Paquet, with the participation of Jean-Fran�ois Pedneault, Shawn Mativetsky, and Patrick Graham. Dance by Richard Tremblay, to the Kathakali drums by Bruno Paquet (chenda), and Shawn Mativetsky (maddalam).
Red Lotus

This activity is intended for the schools, and it highlights the interaction of the artists and the pupils who take part in it. Mainly, it is an opportunity to acquaint young audiences with music and dance, in particular with the Kathakali Dance Theatre. The three participants, including one percussionist, visited schools in the Montreal area from 1994 to 1998, with the support of the Minist�re de la culture et des communications du Qu�bec.