Dr Gilles Chuyen: Dance Brings Life, Structure and Energy to an Actor’s Body

kar, I A French-born dancer, choreographer, actor, and movement practitioner Dr. Gilles Chuyen, has been based in India since 1994. Trained in folk dance, Modern Jazz, ballet, and contemporary dance in France, he later explored Chhau Mayurbhanj, yoga, meditation, and Indian classical dance traditions.

He has choreographed more than 50 plays and musicals and has worked extensively in theatre, contemporary movement, and Bollywood productions across the world. He is also the founder of In Step Dance Company, through which he explores dance as a medium of energy, expression, and inner connection.

For over two decades, Chuyen has been associated with the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi, as a guest faculty member, teaching choreography, movement, and physical approaches to performance. Excerpts from the interview:

Tell us about your dance journey. How did it all start?

My mother told me that, as a toddler, I would respond to music and dance even before I knew how to walk. I started choreographing shows with my cousins and friends at the age of six. My formal training began with the folk dances of Provence. Since I grew up in the South of France, I learned these dances from the age of nine to fourteen.

What dance forms did you train in, and why?

I trained in the French folk dances of Provence, which I still remember fondly. They were taught at my school by a wonderful teacher who organised performances for us in neighbouring villages.

But in 1984, I met my dance guru, Evelyne Leclercq, in Hyères. She took me on a magical journey of technique and self-expression through Modern Jazz and Ballet.

When I went to university in Aix-en-Provence, I continued my Ballet training with teachers from the Kirov tradition, the Lazarovs, while also deepening my understanding of Modern Jazz. I performed and competed with local dance troupes. Andtrained in Modern Jazz from the age of 12 to 24 and in Ballet from 14 to 24.

I was exposed to Contemporary Dance in my twenties through performances and workshops at the Châteauvallon Performing Arts Centre. I was particularly fascinated by the work of Maurice Béjart.

As I had started learning Hindi and was studying Indian culture and civilisation as part of my Political Science degree, I also trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi for two years each to explore Indian aesthetics and at the age of 24, I took the big leap and I left my country France to discover my dream land India.

What made you move to India, and what made you embrace the country?

I came to India at the age of 24 for my National Service, having been employed in the Cultural Section of the Embassy of France in New Delhi for a little over a year.

After spending six months in France, I returned to Delhi with a scholarship from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pursue Ph.D. research in Political Science.

My research on contemporary Brahmin identity was extremely exciting. It involved travelling through Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, reading ancient texts, and conducting interviews in English and Hindi. By then, I had also met Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and had begun my spiritual journey.

What is it about Indian culture and dance that attracts you the most?

I have always been very visual. I remember that, as a child, I would associate the new words I was learning with different shades and colours.

So, yes, colour and emotion are very close to my heart. I enjoy the rainbow of experiences that Indian culture offers, compared with the black and white of the West.

I am also deeply passionate about mythology. Also, I truly appreciate the storytelling aspect of Indian dance, as well as the life lessons conveyed through it. To me India is more than just a country. It is a subcontinent, and the diversity and richness of its dance traditions are astounding.

Apart from being exposed to Bhangra, Dandiya, and Garba through my choreography for Bollywood musicals directed by Sanjoy Roy, I trained in Chhau Mayurbhanj under Shashidharan Nair at the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. I also explored Naga culture and dance while working on shows and musicals for the Hornbill Festival.

You have been teaching dance at the iconic National School of Drama, one of the most prestigious institutions for acting in our country. How do you feel about it?

I love teaching at the NSD. I have been a Guest Faculty member there since 1998. Teaching movement, conducting workshops on specific dance vocabularies, and choreographing for plays are all a delight for me, as I greatly enjoy working with theatre practitioners and actors.

I feel very honoured to have developed a workshop on choreography for the direction students of NSD, where we explore all the “ingredients” that we have to “cook” dance.

How important is dance for actors, according to you?

Dance is extremely important for actors because it brings life, structure, and energy into their bodies. Dance helps develop good posture, enhances stage presence, teaches discipline, and introduces elements of rhythm and expression, all of which are crucial for creating a rich and multilayered performance.

Earlier, actresses who were professionally trained dancers were often cast in films, whereas today the scenario seems to have reversed. What is your take on this?

I think the performance skills required of actors evolve with changes in cinema genres and styles.

In the West, the end of the silent-film era brought a major change. Performers had to focus more on voice and speech. Dance and facial expressions were no longer enough. The iconic film Singin’ in the Rain reflects this shift.

In Bollywood, heroines are still often chosen for their looks and dancing skills. However, I am happy to see more trained and skilled actors in recent years. Some are my friends or former students at NSD. They bring depth to complex characters. They also do justice to compelling stories.

Sandip Soparrkar holds a doctorate in world mythology folklore from Pacific University USA, an honorary doctorate in performing arts from the National American University. He is a World Book Record holder, a well-known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer. Soparrkar has been honored with three National Excellence awards, one National Achievement Award and Dada Saheb Phalke award by the Government of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com