THOMAS VO VAN TAO
Passionate about dance and movement, Thomas started his Indian classical dance journey with Bharatanatyam in the Pandanallur style at the age of 12. After more than 10 years of a rigourous training he turned his attention to Mohiniyattam in which he found the quality of movements he was in quest for. Initiated by Smt Kalamandalam Hymavathi, he pursued his professional training in the art form with his Guru, Dr. Neena Prasad. Thomas is one of the rare male Mohiniyattam dancers who has imbibed the intricacies of the lasya oriented dance style. He has performed extensively in France, his homeland, in India and abroad. His performances have been well received by the lay audience as well as the connoisseurs who have aknowleged the grace and fluidity of his nritta and the subtility of his abhinaya.
Besides being a performer, Thomas also teaches Mohiniyattam at the reputed Mandapa Centre in Paris and is frequently invited for workshops in Europe.
Bachelor in History, Hindi and French pedagogy, Thomas also holds a Master of Performing art from Paris 8 Saint-Denis University. His Master research focused on the contemporary history of Bharatanatyam as well as the male Bharatanatyam performers.
Performances (illustrative list)
-Weaving Choreography Festival, The Bhavan, London, UK - 2024
-Natya Vriksha's World Dance Day, Young Dancers Festival, IIC, Delhi, Inde - 2024
-Lasyanubhoothi, NMACC, Mumbai - 2024
-Devi Samarpana, The Roundhouse, Vancouver, Canada - 2023
-Lasya Lahari, Nishagandhi Theatre, Thiruvananthapuram - 2023
-Utsav Festival, Musikaliska Stockholm, Sweden - 2023
-Sangam, Cayenne, French Guiana - 2023
-Regatta Golden Jubilee Festival, Thiruvananthapuram - 2022
-Guru Gopinath Natanagramam, Thiruvananthapuram - 2022
-Kerala Tourism Onam Festival, Vyloppilli Samskrithi Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram - 2022
-Ananya Nruthyollasa, Seva Sadan, Bangalore - 2022
-Solo Mohiniyattam recital, Forest Lighthouse, Brussels, Belgium - 2022
-Samatvam, UNESCO, Paris - 2021
-Yuvamukulam, Delhi - 2020
-Bharat Bhavan’s India Classical Dance Festival, Thiruvananthapuram - 2020
-Navapallava, Delhi - 2020
-Parvai December Festival, Chennai - 2018, 2019 and 2020
-Fes Festival of World Sacred Music, Fes (Morocco) - 2014
-INALCO’s Indian Dance Festival, Paris - 2013 and 2014
-Centre Mandapa’s Indian Season, Paris - 2010, 2011, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022
-Festival Ici et Demain, Paris - 2011
-Festival de l’Imaginaire, Maison des Cultures du Monde, Paris - 2009
Other collaborations and works
-The Shiva-Rodin Project, choreographical work on the sculptor Auguste Rodin’s
writings on Nataraja, 2013-2014
-Participation in the film The Thinking Body by Kadambari Shivaya, Film division of India, 2017