Maryse Noiseux

🪔 About

Maryse Noiseux, a Canadian-born Kathakali exponent, has significantly contributed to the understanding and propagation of this classical Indian dance-drama form, particularly among Western audiences. Her journey into Indian classical dance began in 1980 when she arrived in India with a fellowship in fine arts from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, after a career in theatre as an actress and director in Montreal, where she founded an experimental and Oriental theatre group. From 1981 to 1983, Noiseux underwent intensive training as a regular student at the renowned Kathakali school Unnayi Warrier Smaraka Kalanilayam in Irinjalakuda. She furthered her studies with a scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). A pivotal moment in her artistic life was her meeting with the great master Sri. Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair, under whom she studied from 1984 until his passing in 2000. She frequently performed with him in Europe, showcasing a unique style of portraying female characters that she inherited from him. In 1989, Maryse Noiseux co-founded Satsangam - International Centre of Art and Culture in Trivandrum (Kerala, South India) with Kudamaloor Karunakaran Nair. This institution has become a significant reference point for Westerners seeking to learn Kathakali and Indian culture, aiming to preserve and diffuse Indian art forms through the traditional Guru Kulam teaching method. Since 1990, Noiseux has been actively teaching and conducting seminars both in India and internationally. Her performances have graced stages across India, Italy, France, Canada, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, where she also taught at the National School of Dance. She primarily works in Italy, leading annual workshops for over two decades. Her dedication to Kathakali was recognized in 2009 with a documentary film about her life, 'Kathakali a path of life,' directed by Christiane Ballan. Awards & Honours: Fellowship in Fine Arts from Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (1980), Scholarship from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Documentary Film 'Kathakali a path of life' by Christiane Ballan (2009).