Guwahati: Sattriya, Assam’s classical dance form rooted in Vaishnavite tradition, is drawing growing international attention, with French national Perrine Legoullon emerging as one of its prominent global practitioners after nearly a decade of dedicated training.
Legoullon said her introduction to Sattriya came in Paris, where a performance by noted exponent Bhabananda Borbayan inspired her to explore the form. Trained earlier in Odissi, she decided to pursue Indian classical dance in depth after completing her Master’s degree and moved to India in 2018.
She made Delhi her base and underwent formal Sattriya training under Meenakshi Medhi, completing her Gunin and gaining a deeper understanding of the discipline. Although Sattriya was accorded classical status in 2000, the dance remains closely linked to ritual practices in Assam’s Satras, where it continues to be performed as a form of devotion.
Originating in the Bhakti movement led by Srimanta Sankardeva, Sattriya integrates dance, music and drama, and retains a strong spiritual character even as it reaches wider audiences. Over the years, teachers trained in the Satras have taken the form beyond monastic spaces, opening it to learners from India and abroad.
Despite being based in Delhi, Legoullon frequently visits Assam to engage with Satras and stay connected to the tradition’s living context. She noted a steady rise in global interest, with Sattriya now being learnt in parts of Europe and South America.
She said mastering the form involves much more than physical technique, requiring familiarity with Assamese culture, language, devotional literature and the philosophical foundations of Bhakti.
Rejecting concerns about declining youth interest, Legoullon said participation among young practitioners in Assam has grown, particularly after Sattriya’s recognition as a classical dance form. She stressed that sustained institutional backing through festivals, platforms and scholarships is essential to maintain this momentum.
Legoullon said her family in France has supported her artistic journey, despite initial surprise at her decision to devote herself to an Indian classical tradition. She plans to organise workshops and performances across Europe to introduce wider audiences to Sattriya.
Her husband, Partha Pratim Hazarika, an Indian citizen and trained theatre professional, is also a Sattriya dancer. Together, they represent how the art form is gaining ambassadors beyond Assam while remaining rooted in the state’s cultural and spiritual heritage.