Sundays, 9AM- 1PM
mid August – mid November
CRIPA
Introductory session: August 16th

Open to all, the “The Arts of Transformation” workshops, exploring transformation through the performing arts
(performance, theatre, song, dance, and music), will be offered by the theatre director, researcher and professor, Dr. Fabrice
Nicot, as part of the “Embodied Memories of Auroville” research-creation project (see below).
Inspired by the research of Polish director Jerzy Grotowski and the diverse artistic and educational projects conducted by
Prof. Fabrice Nicot around the world, the “The Arts of Transformation” workshops explore concepts such as bodily and
vocal organicity, bodily memory, “reversed perspective”; for performer (actor, dancer, singer, musician). Using the “via
negativa” method “unlearning” and “freeing oneself from the superfluous” – participants will explore the “organicity” (or
“vitality”) of movement and voice through songs and dances from around the world (Eastern Europe, Africa, Haiti, India).
This process fosters a sense of letting go while also releasing embodied memories. Materials may include texts related to
Auroville, Sri Aurobindo, the Mother, Vedanta, and various global spiritual traditions, as well as the participants’ own
autobiographical stories. Participants will then be able to offer their attention, bodies, and presence to the space, their
partners, and the artistic materials that “flow through” them. According to Grotowski’s researches and the “reversed
perspective” system, the text will “read” the participants, the song will “sing” them, and the dance will “dance” them.
Collective organic actions incorporating various elements – texts, songs, dances, and music – will emerge from this process.

To Participate:
Participants are welcome to join at any point in the workshop series. Once joined, a commitment to the remainder of the
sessions is expected in order to continue participating.
For more information and to register, email aurovilleartworld@gmail.com
Highly motivated workshop participants may join the Embodied Memories of Auroville;* research-creation project by
committing two additional weekly sessions. This is to be seen directly with Prof. Nicot.

About the facilitator, Prof. Fabrice Nicot (https://scenes-monde.univ-paris8.fr/fabrice-nicot):
Dr. / Prof. Fabrice Nicot is a stage director, an actor graduated from the French National School of Drama
(ENSATT), and a state-certified (D.E.) theatre professor. He teaches at conservatories, universities, and at
the European Drama School Cours Florent (Paris). As a director and pedagogue associated with the Grotowski
Institute in Wrocław (Poland), he also specializes in the arts of transformation. He holds a PhD in Aesthetics,
Arts Sciences and Technologies (specializing in theatre and performing arts) from the University of Paris 8,
and a PhD in Humanities and Social Sciences (specializing in anthropology) from the State University of
Haiti.

*Embodied Memories of Auroville, a research-creation project led by Prof. Fabrice Nicot in collaboration Aurovilians
Dr. Suryamayi Clarence-Smith and Kripa Borg,draws inspiration from the performance-based research of Jerzy Grotowski.
Through artistic workshops and performances, it invites Aurovilians to revive and embody personal, collective, and trans-
generational memories linked to Auroville’s origins; in doing so, it will engage community members intellectually,
emotionally, and physically with the community’s founding values, sparking reflection, sharing, and creation. The project is
affiliated with Indian and international institutes: Auroville Research Platform (SAIIER), French Institute of Pondicherry,
Magic Lantern Trust (Chennai), Accès Culture et Citoyenneté (ACC), Univers-scène / Théâtre de l’Epi d’Or, Grotowski
Institute in Wrocław (Poland), Paris 8 University (Centre for Human and Social Sciences Paris North), and the Ramakrishna
Vedanta Centre in Gretz (France).

Scheduled dates:

  • 30 Aug, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 6 Sept, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 13 Sept, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 20 Sept, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 27 Sept, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 4 Oct, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 11 Oct, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 18 Oct, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 25 Oct, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 1 Nov, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 8 Nov, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 14 Nov, Sat – 9:30am – 1:30pm
  • 22 Nov, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 28 Nov, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 6th Dec, Sun – 9am – 1pm
  • 12 Dec, Sat – 9:30am – 1:30pm