The French Institute in India, in collaboration with the Embassy of France, successfully launched a tour showcasing a series of captivating French performing arts shows across India. These meticulously organized events, in partnership with the Alliance Française network and local associates, aimed to foster cultural exchange and collaboration.
As part of this initiative, the French Institute in India extended invitations to five live productions encompassing theatre, circus, dance, and music, all slated for 2023. Each performance featured talented artists who not only delivered captivating shows but also engaged with local audiences through workshops, offering valuable insights into their artistic disciplines.
The primary goal of these tours was to strengthen ties between French and Indian cultural partners and pave the way for future collaborations between professionals from both nations.
The French artistic tours in India attracted a total of 8,970 viewers across the nation, showcasing the growing interest in French culture and arts within the Indian audience.
Our Daily Performance
by Compagnie Premier Stratagème
The theatrical production of “Our Daily Performance” embarked on a tour across India from August 26th to September 7th. Drawing inspiration from YouTube tutorials, the show incorporates materials from hundreds of videos to create original live user manuals for navigating contemporary society. Written by B. Matijevic and G. Chico, and performed by seven talented artists, the production shines a spotlight on amateur musicians, fitness enthusiasts, and self-defense experts. “Our Daily Performance” is meticulously crafted through the sampling and mixing of gestures found on YouTube.
The tour successfully visited three cities: Pune, Pondicherry, and Chennai, with each venue reaching maximum capacity. Pune’s auditorium accommodated 230 attendees, Pondicherry’s 240, and Chennai’s 80. Collaborating with local partners and venues, such as the Department of Performing Arts at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Prakriti Foundation, and Basement 21 in Chennai, facilitated the success of the production in each city.
The production of “Our Daily Performance” garnered significant media attention, with prominent newspapers such as The Indian Express and The Hindu featuring rave reviews in all three cities. This positive reception underscores the widespread appeal and impact of the show.
Our Daily Performance
by Compagnie Premier Stratagème
The theatrical production of “Our Daily Performance” embarked on a tour across India from August 26th to September 7th. Drawing inspiration from YouTube tutorials, the show incorporates materials from hundreds of videos to create original live user manuals for navigating contemporary society. Written by B. Matijevic and G. Chico, and performed by seven talented artists, the production shines a spotlight on amateur musicians, fitness enthusiasts, and self-defense experts. “Our Daily Performance” is meticulously crafted through the sampling and mixing of gestures found on YouTube.
The tour successfully visited three cities: Pune, Pondicherry, and Chennai, with each venue reaching maximum capacity. Pune’s auditorium accommodated 230 attendees, Pondicherry’s 240, and Chennai’s 80. Collaborating with local partners and venues, such as the Department of Performing Arts at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Prakriti Foundation, and Basement 21 in Chennai, facilitated the success of the production in each city.
The production of “Our Daily Performance” garnered significant media attention, with prominent newspapers such as The Indian Express and The Hindu featuring rave reviews in all three cities. This positive reception underscores the widespread appeal and impact of the show.
Toyo
by Compagnie Les Colporteurs
Toyo, an engaging circus production, was invited to tour India from September 27th to November 4th. Designed as an artistic and cultural exchange program for young individuals, Toyo showcases a captivating circus act that features a humorous encounter between an acrobat and a construction pipe, presenting innovative storytelling on stage.
This successful tour spanned 11 cities across India, with a total of 27 shows, including a notable performance in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Each show received enthusiastic acclaim from audiences and garnered extensive press coverage, attracting a total of over 1,780 spectators nationwide.
Toyo
by Compagnie Les Colporteurs
Toyo, an engaging circus production, was invited to tour India from September 27th to November 4th. Designed as an artistic and cultural exchange program for young individuals, Toyo showcases a captivating circus act that features a humorous encounter between an acrobat and a construction pipe, presenting innovative storytelling on stage.
This successful tour spanned 11 cities across India, with a total of 27 shows, including a notable performance in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Each show received enthusiastic acclaim from audiences and garnered extensive press coverage, attracting a total of over 1,780 spectators nationwide.
Maya Kamaty
from Reunion Island
Maya Kamaty, an acclaimed Creole Urban Pop musician, embarked on a tour of India from December 10th to 23rd. Hailing from Réunion Island, a French overseas territory, Maya brought the vibrant musical traditions of her homeland to audiences across India. Throughout her tour, Maya showcased her latest EP, “Sovaz,” which translates to “wild” in Creole, exploring urban pop music with a freestyle approach. With her captivating vocals and deep connection to Maloya, a music genre traditionally sung in Réunion Creole, Maya offered a unique fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds.
This successful tour covered five cities: Jodhpur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Kolkata, captivating audiences with each electrifying performance. The concert at Cafe Hons in Lucknow drew a crowd of 400, while the Natarani Theatre in Ahmedabad attracted an audience of 300. In addition to the concerts, a workshop introducing Réunion Island’s music, in collaboration with Daspan House, was held in Jodhpur. Furthermore, a press conference and a workshop on traditional musical instruments were organized at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal, enriching the cultural exchange experience.
Maya Kamaty
from Reunion Island
Maya Kamaty, an acclaimed Creole Urban Pop musician, embarked on a tour of India from December 10th to 23rd. Hailing from Réunion Island, a French overseas territory, Maya brought the vibrant musical traditions of her homeland to audiences across India. Throughout her tour, Maya showcased her latest EP, “Sovaz,” which translates to “wild” in Creole, exploring urban pop music with a freestyle approach. With her captivating vocals and deep connection to Maloya, a music genre traditionally sung in Réunion Creole, Maya offered a unique fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds.
This successful tour covered five cities: Jodhpur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, and Kolkata, captivating audiences with each electrifying performance. The concert at Cafe Hons in Lucknow drew a crowd of 400, while the Natarani Theatre in Ahmedabad attracted an audience of 300. In addition to the concerts, a workshop introducing Réunion Island’s music, in collaboration with Daspan House, was held in Jodhpur. Furthermore, a press conference and a workshop on traditional musical instruments were organized at Bharat Bhawan in Bhopal, enriching the cultural exchange experience.
Lecomte de Bregeot
French electronic sensation
Lecomte de Brégeot, a prominent figure in the French electronic music scene, skillfully combines intense and powerful melodies with a fusion of new wave and EBM in his tracks, crafting heartwarming tunes that deeply resonate with listeners.
From November 30th to December 17th, a successful 7-city tour with 8 shows took place in India. The tour commenced in Bangalore at the Echoes of Earth festival, in collaboration with KRUNK, drawing a massive crowd of 2000 people. Subsequent concerts saw 300 attendees at Xena Bar and Brewery in Hyderabad, and 250 at Vasco da Gama square in Kochi. Additionally, Lecomte de Brégeot conducted a workshop for aspiring artists at The Music’Scool in Bangalore, followed by a performance at Auro Bar and Kitchen in New Delhi, in collaboration with Boxout.Fm. Concerts were also held at Khar Social Mumbai and Felix club in Goa, both in collaboration with KRUNK.
Lecomte de Bregeot
French electronic sensation
Lecomte de Brégeot, a prominent figure in the French electronic music scene, skillfully combines intense and powerful melodies with a fusion of new wave and EBM in his tracks, crafting heartwarming tunes that deeply resonate with listeners.
From November 30th to December 17th, a successful 7-city tour with 8 shows took place in India. The tour commenced in Bangalore at the Echoes of Earth festival, in collaboration with KRUNK, drawing a massive crowd of 2000 people. Subsequent concerts saw 300 attendees at Xena Bar and Brewery in Hyderabad, and 250 at Vasco da Gama square in Kochi. Additionally, Lecomte de Brégeot conducted a workshop for aspiring artists at The Music’Scool in Bangalore, followed by a performance at Auro Bar and Kitchen in New Delhi, in collaboration with Boxout.Fm. Concerts were also held at Khar Social Mumbai and Felix club in Goa, both in collaboration with KRUNK.
PIXEL
by Mourad Merzouki, Compagnie Käfig
Featured in approximately 30 countries worldwide, Pixel is hailed as a resounding success—a mesmerizing blend of virtuoso hip-hop dance and cutting-edge digital projection. The result is a breathtaking choreography and imagery that provides a captivating glimpse into the thrilling possibilities at the intersection of the physical and virtual realms.
From December 3rd to 20th, a 4-city tour covering New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and Bangalore (for workshops) captivated audiences. Performances at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, The National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, and the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa boasted full seating capacities, with 630, 1000, and 950 attendees respectively. Additionally, the dancers conducted masterclasses and workshops in each city, collaborating with local partners to enrich the cultural exchange experience.
Auditions for Cartes Blanches:
Mourad Merzouki, the artistic director and choreographer of the show, along with the dancers, conducted auditions in direct collaboration with the Prakriti Foundation, Chennai, with the goal of selecting Indian dancers to participate in another production by Compagnie Käfig, titled “Cartes Blanches.” This transmission project is scheduled for the year 2024. The auditions, held in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, garnered interest from over 200 candidates.
PIXEL
by Mourad Merzouki, Compagnie Käfig
Featured in approximately 30 countries worldwide, Pixel is hailed as a resounding success—a mesmerizing blend of virtuoso hip-hop dance and cutting-edge digital projection. The result is a breathtaking choreography and imagery that provides a captivating glimpse into the thrilling possibilities at the intersection of the physical and virtual realms.
From December 3rd to 20th, a 4-city tour covering New Delhi, Mumbai, Goa, and Bangalore (for workshops) captivated audiences. Performances at Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi, The National Centre for Performing Arts in Mumbai, and the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa boasted full seating capacities, with 630, 1000, and 950 attendees respectively. Additionally, the dancers conducted masterclasses and workshops in each city, collaborating with local partners to enrich the cultural exchange experience.
Auditions for Cartes Blanches:
Mourad Merzouki, the artistic director and choreographer of the show, along with the dancers, conducted auditions in direct collaboration with the Prakriti Foundation, Chennai, with the goal of selecting Indian dancers to participate in another production by Compagnie Käfig, titled “Cartes Blanches.” This transmission project is scheduled for the year 2024. The auditions, held in Bangalore, Delhi, and Mumbai, garnered interest from over 200 candidates.