Indian dance theater "Laudato Si - St. Francis of Assisi"

The performance "Laudato Si - St. Francis of Assisi" will bring the expressive power of the classical Indian dance Bharatanatyam to St. Michael's at Brüsseler Platz on June 21, 2026. The Kalahrdaya ensemble from India, led by Prof. Dr. Fr. Saju George S.J., interprets the life of St. Francis of Assisi using coded gestures, precise bodywork and a narrative style that interweaves spiritual dimensions with social commitment. The evening unfolds a narrative web of closeness to nature, equality and the desire to make marginalized voices visible - themes that resonate with the ensemble's artistic self-image as well as Franciscan thought. Kalahrdaya sees art as an educational space in which young people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds in particular receive professional support. The Cologne performance therefore not only offers an encounter with a South Indian dance tradition, but also provides a glimpse of the interpenetration of aesthetics and ethos that characterizes the ensemble. Admission is free; donations support the Kalahrdaya social project.