Mrs. Milena Salvini

Ever since Mrs. Milena Salvini and her husband Mr. Roger Filipuzzi first visited Kerala Kalamandalam in 1965,they had been so fascinated by the ‘scenic beauty’ and ‘the open- mindedness’ of its people that they decided to visit God’s own Country at least twice a year. 

Once again, she is here on a holiday to relax in the comfortable warmth of its people and to satisfy her taste buds with her favourite fish cuisines.

Mrs. Milena Salvini, who runs a school of Indian Dance named ‘Centre Mandapa’ in Paris is all praise for the beautiful and enchanting classical dance forms of Kerala. Herself a trained classical dancer of Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom from the reputed Kerala Kalamandalam, she has a whole lot of performances to her credit. She is very much interested in Kathakali and Kutiyattam which she considers as ‘great art forms having incredible impact’. The “Centre Mandapa” established in 1975 gives training to around 100 students who are keen on learning and imbibing the scintillating dance forms such as Bharatanatyam and Kathak.

According to her, foreign tourists are eager to learn about the splendid art forms of Kerala and that they should be given enough opportunity for closer cultural interaction with the natives of Kerala. She feels that more and more dance schools should be established in India and abroad so as to preserve the unique cultural heritage of this wonderful land for the future generations.

For Milena Salvini, Kerala is a veritable Shangri-la far from the bustling metropolis of Paris; a place where beauty, art and culture bloom in peaceful harmony and co-existence. She hopes to be back here again sometime next year to behold the amazing spectacles and splendid images that God’s own country has in store for her. So, we can gladly wait to see her during the next tourist season too.