Cosmos Chartres
24th June 2011, 9.30 pm and 11 pm
The Cathedral
For eight centuries the cathedral of Chartres [http://cathedrale.chartres.free.fr/], a UNESCO world heritage site, has been attracting spiritual seekers and pilgrims of every spirituality and religion. A landmark of the great Beauce plain, 70 miles/110 km south-west of Paris, the mystery of this great structure connecting heaven and earth is where generations have found the sacred : energy, peace and harmony. The cathedral labyrinth offers a spiritual journey into the earth and discovery of oneself and of the heavens. In its harmonious structure of the labyrinth, the stained-glass windows depicting saints, agriculture and the signs of the zodiac, and its daily rituals of prayer, presence, welcome and community, Chartres is a cosmic temple.
In April 2011 the Friends of Chartres Cathedral, recognising the profound connection between the cathedral and the spirituality of Cosmos, commissioned a performance from Dominic White, the founder and composer of Cosmos
The Event
A “nuit blanche” (« white night ») will take place at Chartres Cathedral on Friday 24th June, when it will stay open until midnight. From 7.30 pm, music, poetry, dance and silence will fill the space and accompany your exploration of the cathedral.
Why 24th June ? It’s close to the summer solstice, the natural hight-point of the year ; and for Christians, it’s the birthday of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Christ, who would come to reconnect heaven and earth. On that night, Indian dancer Lambert Vadrot will interpret three of the Cosmos dances on the cathedral labyrinth. These three form the central section of Cosmos, The Rites of Spring. The first dance, The Secret, is a rain-dance and a dance of love. The Sacrifice is an uncompromising confrontation with the darkness of evil and guilt. Regeneration reveals to us the energy beyond words of life which has risen from the dead.
The dances will be performed twice during the evening, at 9.30 and 11. Each performance will last about half an hour.
To listen to the music, click here
Biography of Lambert Vadrot
I was initiated into Bharatanatyam, the sacred dance of South India, at the age of 10 by Master N. Govindarajan, of Nagapattinam. Later I was formed in Paris by Master Amala Devi, a disciple of Ram Gopal. I also took part in sessions with Masters K. Murugan (of Pondicherry) and Father Barboza (Mumbai) in order to enrich my repertoire of dances on Hindu and Christian themes.
For some ten years now I’ve been creating works which combine Indian movement with classical and contemporary European music. In realising my creations I have collaborated with musicians specialising in electro-acoustic and Australian aboriginal traditions, as well as contemporary dancers.
I also created choreographies based on Bible texts, which use Indian movement, and I dance for Christian liturgies, including the Mass, and at the opening ceremonies of assemblies of religious communities. I run workshops for young people and for chaplains in order to help them pray with their bodies. As Sri Aurobindo says, “The body is the living and happy instrument of God.”
Since 1999 I have been working as a volunteer dancer and I’m one of the founder members of the Franco-Indian association "Anjali Mudra". Since 2010 I’ve been helping two orphanages in Pondicherry, Don Bosco and St Louis de Gonzague, for which I raise money through performances.
On 3rd April 2011I, in collaboration with Dominic White, the Director of Cosmos, and accompanied by a reading of the text by my wife Chantal, I interpreted the dance The Mystery of Time at the church of Sainte-Croix, Ivry-Port, in the Val-de-Marne area of the Paris suburbs,
The rehearsals have begun ! These photos were taken by labyrinth expert and guide Jill Geoffrion, on 29th April. Lambert, Capucine and I met her by chance in the cathedral that evening – but we don’t believe in coincidences, because Cosmos has always been a project of connections and wider networks… Here’s a link to Jill’s site www.jillgeoffrion.com, where you can find out much more about labyrinths and ways to walk them…
Getting to Chartres:
http://cathedrale.chartres.free.fr/ The quickest and greenest way from Paris is by train : between 55 min and 1 hour 25 from Paris Montparnasse. Local trains connect Chartres with Le Mans and other towns to the south and west. But coming by car or coach during the Friday night rush-hour is really not fun… If you must drive, come early and explore the beautiful old town…
Bit thank you to Capucine Soupeaux, who got Cosmos Chartres started, and to Henry Troadec for his help with the French pages.
