Impressions, Kerala Tourism

She has lived and thought like a Keralite ever since she first set foot in the state. For Ms. Brigitte Chataigner, performing arts had an impact on her at a very young age of 13. With a special liking for performing art forms belonging to countries in Asia, Ms. Brigitte was drawn towards Mohiniyattam, the female classical solo dance form of Kerala.

According to Ms. Brigitte, she got acquainted with Kerala and Mohiniyattam through her husband, Mr. Michel Lesterhan, who is a dancer and choreographer with good exposure to India. Ms. Brigitte started learning Mohiniyattam in 1987 at the Kerala Kalamandalam under eminent teachers like Kalamandalam Leelamma and Kalamandalam Kshemavathy.

It has been a decade since she started learning Mohiniyattam and her life as a typical Keralite woman. The days that followed her training period at Kalamandalam also took her close to the cultural vibes of Kerala, the life style, people, all of which eventually made her to embrace Kerala as her second home.

Continuing her talk with us at her home, a traditional Kerala house, at Nedumpura village near Cheruthuruthy in Thrissur, Ms. Brigitte drew our attention to one of her ongoing projects that is nearing completion. It is about Mohiniyattam and is a documentary film being done by teaming up with Malayalam cine world?s renowned director Mr. Adoor Gopalakrishnan.

Over the years, Ms. Brigitte evolved into an accomplished dancer of Mohiniyattam. According to Ms. Brigitte, of late, she has her focus on another interesting project that has more to do with dance productions that allow freedom of expression in a contemporary sense, while maintaining the basics and essence of Mohiniyattam.

As a performing artiste, Ms. Brigitte recalls the opportunity that came through the Soorya Dance and Music Festival, which contributed to her success as a performer. She and her husband, run a company called PRANA through which the couple intends to promote Indian performing arts as well as contemporary works.

Ms. Brigitte is indeed a great cultural ambassador for France and a great patron of Mohiniyattam, and the art world of Kerala should be a happy lot with her involvement in Mohiniyattam.