The Bayadéres: From Perumal Temple to Summer Stages 1838 to 2026
- shishyaarts
- Jul 14
- 3 min read
Natasha Agrawal
July 2026
In 1838, a troupe of dancers from Perumal Temple in Pondicherry was selected to travel to Europe. Pondicherry being a French colony, it is likely that the dancers had no agency in choosing to travel. However, it is documented that the dancers were paid well - Rs. 10 per day as they traversed around Europe dancing and showcasing their art to colonial audiences. The five dancers Tillammal, Ammani, Sundaram, Rangam, Vedam were accompanied by musicians Ramalingam, Sarvanam, and Devanayakam are the first well documented Indian dance troupe to perform in Europe.
Varadaraja Perumal Perundevi Thayar Temple in Puducherry, is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu and Hindu goddess Lakshmi. It is located heritage town region of the city. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is a storehouse of Chola and Pandya architecture.( Wikipedia)
Known as The Bayadéres (from the Portuguese word bailhadera meaning female dancer) they received rave reviews around Europe who had never witnessed the beauty of Bharatnatyam. According to an account of their reception in Journal des Debats, “ The dancers of all Europe dance with their feet, but that is all. The bayaderes dance in a different manner, with their whole frame. Their heads dance, their arms dance. Their eyes, above all, obey the movement and fury of the dance. Their feet click against the floor; the arms and the hands flash in the air; the eyes sparkle; the bosom heaves; their mouths mutter; the whole body quivers.” European audiences often viewed their performances as exotic curiosities rather than appreciating the deep spiritual, cultural, and storytelling traditions behind the dance.
Fast forward to 2026. Bharatnatyam is being showcased in Europe again. This time there are eleven bayaderes excitedly traveling to Portugal, hopeful of transporting our audiences with the takita takita of our ghungroos into a world of divine story telling! After performing in Rome, Paris, and New York, Shishya School of Performing Arts is ready to travel to Lisbon. Most of the dancers belong to the Indian diaspora but some do not, which makes us a truly global troupe! We dance together simply for the joy of music, learning and enjoying community. Our rehearsals together have brought us closer physically, emotionally and spiritually. We are busy educators, skilful doctors, bright entrepreneurs, brilliant scientists and precise researchers. But on stage we are one, moving gracefully and rhythmically together, bringing to life stories from various parts of India. We will perform as cultural ambassadors, celebrating the beauty of Indian dance while connecting with people from around the world.
Although nearly two centuries separate these journeys, both reflect the power of dance to cross borders. Thank you Tillammal, Ammani, Sundaram, Rangam, and Vedam! We are grateful for the path you paved for us. Romba nandri Ramalingam, Sarvanam, and Devanayakam! Tell me, how did you feel embarking a ship and crossing the mighty oceans? Was there fear in your heart? How did you feel hearing the applause night after night and doing 55 shows at the Adelphi in London? Was there pride and delight? How did you feel traveling across European countries? Was there fatigue and homesickness in your soul? And the all important question - were you ever able to make it back home? Your travels and performances were the beginnings of a global cultural exchange. Your immense bravery, endurance, and talent continues to inspire us today!
The dancers were literate and could write in Telugu/Tamil. Signatures of the dancers on the left.
‘The Bayaderes’, giving the names of the dancers and the melam. At the front we see Sundaram and Rangam performing ‘The Dagger Dance’. Ammani is seen between them, but further back on the stage. Tille and Vedam are behind and to the right of the melam. To the left we see Devanayakam with the maddalam, Ramalingam nattuvanar with the talam, and Savaranam on the thooti. (Jerome Robbins Dance Collection, New York Public Library).
References:
Joshi, K. P, 1838 South Indian Dancers Tour Europe
Meduri, A. Interweaving Dance Archives: Devadasis, Bayadères, and Nautch girls of 1838, Ed. G. Brandstetter, Routledge, 2018.
Nair, R. ‘The 1838 tour: is there a “real” bayadère? Resistance in the archives’, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society (2026), pp. 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1356186325101363
Roebert, D., Aspects of Pictorial Indian Dance History
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