Milena Salvini

🪔 About

Milena Salvini (1933-2022) was an Italian-born French exponent and teacher of Indian classical dance, particularly renowned for her contributions to Kathakali. Born in Milan, Italy, on April 23, 1933, she moved to France with her mother after her father's early death. Salvini initially pursued studies in music and modern dance. Her profound interest in Indian classical dance led her to India in 1962, where she received a two-year scholarship to train in Kathakali at the prestigious Kerala Kalamandalam. She was the first French woman to be admitted to this institution, where she studied under Guru Padmanabhan Nair. Salvini also undertook training in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom at Kerala Kalamandalam, and was a disciple of veteran Bharatanatyam guru M. K. Saroja in 1967. Upon her return to France, Salvini became a pivotal figure in introducing Indian classical arts to the Western world. In 1967, she organized the first international tour of a Kathakali troupe from Kerala Kalamandalam under the auspices of UNESCO, a significant step in bringing the temple art form to the proscenium stage in Europe and the U.S.. In 1975, she co-founded the Centre Mandapa in Paris with her husband, architect Roger Filipuzzi, as a dedicated space for teaching Indian classical dance and promoting traditional and contemporary performing arts. The Centre Mandapa has since become a vital cultural hub, serving as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)'s cultural window in France and offering training to approximately 100 students in Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Salvini's efforts extended beyond Kathakali; she was instrumental in introducing Kutiyattam, an ancient Sanskrit theatre form, to the West. She organized a European tour for a Kalamandalam Kutiyattam troupe in 1980 with UNESCO funding, which ultimately contributed to UNESCO's declaration of Kutiyattam as an "Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". She also arranged for a Thullal troupe from Kalamandalam to tour France. Milena Salvini authored two books and produced three films on Kathakali, further documenting and promoting the art form. She passed away in Paris on January 25, 2022, at the age of 88. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (2019), Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (1985), Médaille de la Ville de Paris (2018), Mukundan Raja Award (2004), ALUMNI Award (2015).