Fransalian Kalai Ulagam
A Center for Dance, Music and Culture
The cultural fact is that dance and music are dynamic living traditions profoundly relevant in Tamil culture. They serve as vital mediums for spiritual expression, cultural preservation, and community bonding. The classical dances like Bharatanatyam, Karakaattam, Mayilattam and other forms of folk dances serve as a gateway, providing insight into people’s socio-cultural traditions and religious beliefs. These art forms are rooted in people’s spiritual and devotional practices, serving as powerful methods for storytelling. They powerfully and felicitously convey social traditions and moral values that strengthen people’s cultural identity and unity. Hence, as it can be seen from people’s life, Tamil music and dance are essential components of community celebrations, social festivals and religious ceremonies. The Christian missionaries make use of such art forms in various ways according to the need of the time to proclaim the Gospel message of Jesus, promoting moral values and creating awareness about the social evils. This is indeed a novel idea in the field of innovative ministry that our South-East province dared to undertake in its evangelization efforts. The purpose was to promote the personal interest of the confreres who had the aptitude and talent to utilize this art form in carrying out the apostolate of innovative ministry.
As Fr. A. Jayaseelan, msfs showed personal interest and developed his talent in dance, Fr. A. Lawrence, msfs, provincial appointed him as the first director of Fransalian Kalai Ulagam. He kvelled over his initiative to use this art form in promoting the Gospel message, and so he made lots of efforts, working dauntlessly and tenaciously in organizing programs and officially starting the center. The provincial finally blessed and inaugurated the center at Fransalain community in St. Thomas Mount on 10 August 2009.
The Logo for this ministry was designed by Fr. Wilson Fernando, msfs and it was unveiled by Fr. Dominic Savio, msfs, the councilor-in-charge of innovative ministry. Therefore, as the pioneer, Fr. A. Jayaseelan, msfs showed greater commitment, working with enthusiasm in organizing a dance group and training them for various programs. He also initiated offering classes for those young students interested in learning this art. In the course of time, he also took special interests and pursued studies on this subject, He first completed DFA and MFA in dance from Kalaikaveri college of fine Arts in Trichy. Then, he completed MPhil in the fine arts of dance from Music College in Chennai. His specialization was in Kuchipudi under the guidance of Guru Madhavapeddi Murthy, Chennai. While organizing and performing dance programs with his team on various topics, he is pursuing Ph. D studies in dance at Tamil University in Thanjavur with specialization in Kuchipudi dance. Hence, the objective of Fransalian Kalai Ulagam is to proclaim the Gospel message of God’s love and compassion, appealing to the people’s life. Programs are focused on motivating the youngsters by conveying the moral values of kindness, goodness, justice and peace, creating awareness among the people about the various social evils. Moreover, there is a greater scope for the Kalai Ulagam as there is a good demand for such ministry. At present, the following classes are offered: conducting classes on the art of various kinds of dance like Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and folk dance, music, and yoga, promoting the local art and culture of the people at our center as well as in the parishes and institutions whenever invited.
Ministry achievements of Fransalian Kalai Ulagam
Fr. A. Jayaseelan, msfs as the director was zesty and worked with sanguine spirit in training and forming his troupe. They organize and present programs based on biblical themes, social awareness, and Fransalian Spirituality. The program consists of bharatam, musical concert, folk dance, mimetic dance and dance-drama. The troupe under the direction of Fr. A. Jayaseelan, msfs had presented programs based on the life of Jesus, Mother Mary, Passion of Christ, the last seven Words of Jesus, and on the lives of saints in the schools, institutions, colleges, and parishes. They had organized so far more than 100 shows in India and abroad. The director also offers special training sessions on dance for the Religious sisters, seminarians, and the candidates under formation. Thus, Fransalian Kalai Ulagam is proud of its achievement under the leadership of Fr. A. Jayaseelan, msfs. The following are the different programs organized on various occasions: “Voice of Mission” about the missionary legacy of Fr. Peter Mary Mermier on the joyful occasion of 175 Year celebration of the MSFS Congregation, presented in Visakhapatnam, Trichy and at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Indian Institute of Spirituality, Bangaluru. The troupe had offered programs in many parishes in the state of Tamil Nadu, including the parishes and the schools undertaken by our South-East province. The director also teaches a class on the spirituality of dance at the Indian Institute of Spirituality in Bangaluru.
Moreover, our Fransalian Kalai Ulagam has conducted many ‘Salangai Pooja’ (which means Initiation into dance as well as Arangetrum – Graduation ceremony). Three of the disciples, namely, Mr. Godfrey, and Mr. Jerome has done Post Graduation in dance and Miss. Adhithya has done Graduation in dance. Most Rev. Leopoldo Girelle, the Apostolic Nuncio to India visited the Diocese of Chengalpattu, and the Fransalian Kalai Ulagam had presented welcome dance on that occasion. The director has organized so far 21 events in schools like SFS Matriculation High School at Seethamadhara, Visag, Holy Family Convent School, Chennai, SFS Matric, Hr. Sec. School, Alangayam and Virudunagar.
Following are our Fransalian parishes where the Kalai Ulagam troupe had presented dance programs as part of evangelization: MSFS Provincialate, Trichy, All Saints Church, RS Nagar, Chennai, Christ the Redeemer parish, Kodambakkam, St. Mary’s Church, Mariyapuram, St. Francis Xavier church, Kanakanpatty, St. Antany’s church, Ammapaty, Fransalian Center, Othaiyal, Our lady of Perpetual Help, Nallatinputhur, our Lady of Announciation Church, Kanagadu and Holy Trinity Church, Adhanur.