Maria Kiran

🪔 About

Maria-Kiran, an accomplished Indian classical dancer specializing in Bharatanatyam, was born in December 1981 in Allahabad, India. She moved to France at the age of three and began her Bharatanatyam training at six at the Mandapa Center, initially under Kamadev and then with Vidya, a disciple of K.M.K. Saroja. She also explored Western classical Ballet for several years. In 1994, she showcased her Bharatanatyam skills at the Dance Conservatory's "Young Talents" program and participated in the City of Paris's Youth Festival and the International Expo-Languages. Her Arangetram took place in 1996 at the Chidambaram temple, guided by Smt. K.M.K. Saroja. Following this, Maria-Kiran performed annually in India for the Alliance Française in cities like New Delhi, Bombay, and Trivandrum, as well as on Asianet TV and at various events in Paris. She graced numerous exhibitions and festivals, including "When the Gods give a show" in Boulogne-Billancourt, "Pondichery" at the Museum Guimet, and the Ris-Orangis Festival "Dances and Musics of the Word" in 1997. Her international performances included the residence of the French Ambassador in New Delhi (1998), the Indian Ambassador in Rome (1999), and the inauguration of the Museum of Asian Arts of Nice. Since 1997, she has continued her studies every summer in India under the tutelage of Smt. Yamini Krishnamurthi and Smt. Jamuna Krishnan for abhinaya. Maria-Kiran also appeared in two films, "Darshana" by Philippe Lebret and "Nicolas Le Riche, Star Dancer" for ARTE TV. In April 1999, she received the "Special Award of the Jury" unanimously at the International Dance competition "Settimana Internazionale delta Danza" in Perugia, Italy. In February 2000, she performed a program based on Mother Teresa's Prayers, choreographed by Vidya, at the Basilica Sopra Minerva in Rome and the Cathedral of Ferentino as part of the Jubilee 2000. Critics have lauded her as a "scintillating Bharatanatyam" dancer with "natural flair for abhinaya" and "a born dancer." Awards & Honours: Special Award of the Jury (Settimana Internazionale delta Danza) (1999).