Kalpana Metayer

🪔 About

Kalpana Métayer, born Martine Métayer in Paris, France, is a distinguished French Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Influenced by Western classical music from an early age, with both her parents being musicians, she initially trained in flute. Her journey into Indian classical dance began in 1977 when she discovered Bharatanatyam through a workshop with Malavika, followed by classes with Shakuntala. Driven by her passion, Kalpana Métayer traveled to India in 1980 to immerse herself in the traditional art form. She underwent extensive training from 1980 to 1991 under the tutelage of renowned masters V.S. Muthuswamy Pillaï and Kalanidhi Narayanan. During her time in India, she also honed her vocal skills, learning singing with Kamakshi Kuppuswamy. Her official debut, known as "arangetram," took place on November 29, 1983, at Mylapore Fine Arts in Madras (now Chennai). Upon her return to France, Kalpana Métayer established herself as a significant figure in the Bharatanatyam scene. She has performed extensively on French and European stages, given classical recitals, and engaged in choreography. Her artistic approach often involves collaborating with directors, musicians, and other choreographers, integrating the rigorous Bharatanatyam style into diverse contemporary contexts without compromising its technique. Notably, she collaborated with American choreographer Andy de Groat, joining his company for a European tour of "The Bayadère" (1992-1994) and inspiring a solo piece, "Ma déesse SDF," composed for her in 1995. She also choreographed "À fleur de peau" in 1995. Kalpana Métayer has been teaching Bharatanatyam in France for many years, with several of her initial students becoming professional artists. In recognition of her more than 40 years of dedication and involvement in Bharatanatyam, the Indian government honored her with the ICCR Distinguished Alumni Award in 2020. Awards & Honours: ICCR Distinguished Alumni Award (2020).