Kathakali Opus IX, formerly the Kathakali Institute, The Mahapooram Ensemble, and Danse Kalashas are member companies of The Galileo Spaces, Centre de création pour musique et danse. On the occasion of the tour with guest-artist K. Gopalakrishnan, in 1981, The Institute was the first organization to bring Kathakali to the Canadian public, with its presentation of Duryodhana Wadham. Since then, it remains the sole driving force behind the promotion and artistic development of this most unusual art-form in the country. While bringing Kathakali to the Montreal audience, the Institute has broadened and strengthened the Kathakali repertoire. Kathakali Opus IX's repertoire includes classical pieces reinterpreted in the traditional style and revitalised, and a wholly original set of dance works like The Iliad, and the Kathakali version of Tagore's Gitanjali, Origines.

 

NEW REPERTOIRE

 

Origines (1988-96)
From Gitanjali, by Rabindranath Tagore.
Danced and choreographed by Richard Tremblay.
Chenda (Kathakali drum)
Music arranged, composed and played by Bruno Paquet
Song for soprano voice.

The Iliad (1988-91)
Created by Richard Tremblay
With a cast nine dancers from Kerala Kalamandalam

Ulysses / The Odyssey (1992)
Created by Richard Tremblay
With a cast of seven dancers from Kerala

TRADITIONAL REPERTOIRE

 

Gitopadesham
Kalyana Saugandhigam
Kalakeyawattham
Duryodhanawattham