SAJU GEORGE, THE DANCING JESUIT 

SAJU GEORGE, THE DANCING JESUIT

Indian dance

29 May

Auditorium

21.30

Price: € 15.00

Over 6s

Approx. duration: 120 minutes with interval

Production: Fundação Oriente

The bharatanatyam is an elegant form of dance with a strong visual impact. Originating in the temples in Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, literally thousands of years ago, this dance style is the oldest of the main forms of classical Indian dance.

The dancers, through their choreographies, display gestures and movements representative of mythology, philosophy, epics, ancient stories, contemporary themes and other experiences of life.

Originally from Calcutta, Saju George Moolamthuruthil, s.j., better known as the Jesuit Dancer, is a dynamic and unique artist with a rare vision and passion for the art and culture of India and quite simply a brilliant dancer of the bharatanatyam style.

Over the 15 or so years he has been performing, Saju George, s.j. has shown a constant concern to conjugate his dancing with his Catholic faith and his ordainment and considers art as an effective means of spiritual integration and social transformation.

In recent years, Saju has given over 200 performances in India and worldwide and adopting both Hindu and Christian themes in his incorporation of images whether of Radha-Krishna and Shiva-Parvati or of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.

According to the Dancing Jesuit, this art involves prayer and adoration, self-awareness and divine realisation, aesthetic delight and cosmic integration, social service, the promotion of inter-religious peace and harmony, ecumenism as well as other dimensions. He believes strongly in the power of art, and in a special fashion, that of dance and of music.

Saju George is also director of various centres of art, culture and social development, including: Kalahrdava, the Art Peace Foundation and Shanti Nir, in Calcutta.