Paris Laxmi

Early Life and Cultural Roots

Born in France to an artistic family

The artistic lineage of Paris Laxmi started in Aix-en-Provence, France. She came into this world as Myriam Sophia Lakshmi Quinio on July 16, 1991. Her parents created a home filled with creativity and expression. Her father, Yves Quinio, pursued his passion as a drama artist and poet, while her mother, Patricia Quinio, made her mark as a sculptor. Their artistic household helped shape Laxmi’s natural talents right from the start. Family stories tell us she wanted to dance before she could even walk.

The family’s creative pursuits touched her younger brother too. Theo – Q.Narayan carved his own musical path as a drummer. He mastered both classical orchestra drums and Indian percussion instruments like Tabla and Mridangam. His training with Mridangam Maestro Thiruvarur Bakthavathsalam led to something special – the maestro gave Paris her stage name ‘Paris Laxmi,’ which became her professional identity.

First visits to India and early fascination with dance

At age five, Paris Laxmi stepped foot in India for the first time, though Indian culture had already become part of her daily life. She grew up surrounded by Indian influences. Her mother, the sculptor, shared stories about Hindu deities like Ganesha, Shiva, Parvati, Rama and Sita. These tales came along with Christian stories about Jesus, Joseph, Mary and various saints. A picture of baby Krishna watched over her childhood bedroom in Aix-en-Provence.

The dance journey started officially when Paris turned five and joined western contemporary dance classes. Her love for movement showed up early. She begged her parents for Flamenco lessons at just three years old after watching a performance. Teachers thought she was too young back then. Still, she kept learning dance, picking up contemporary styles first, then jazz and ballet. This mix of dance styles built a strong base for her later work in Indian classical dance.

The cultural immersion grew stronger during yearly family trips to India. Laxmi soaked up the rich cultural heritage that would later define her artistic identity. She once said, “The connection my family and I have with India is difficult to explain. It’s like this natural feeling that we are home here. We feel moved by the culture. This is our favourite place”. These early experiences helped her build real connections with locals, including a special friendship with a tribal girl near Dehradun, even though they couldn’t speak each other’s language.

Bi-cultural upbringing between France and India

The profound Indo-French identity came from her parents’ careful choices in raising their children. As “self-proclaimed Indophiles,” they brought up Laxmi and her brother following traditional Indian ways. Indian mythology, food, and clothing became just as important as their French heritage. This mix of cultures created a unique foundation for her future artistic work.

The family’s connection to India began before Laxmi was born. Her father first explored the subcontinent in 1982, and her mother joined him a few years later. Their love for India ran deep enough to inspire their children’s names: Myriam Sophia Lakshmi and Theo Elie Narayan. Laxmi herself noted, “Before my birth, India was already a part of my family as my parents were loving this country, its customs, people, philosophy, arts, and heritage”.

The annual pilgrimages to India lasted longer than typical vacations. Most visits stretched about two months, but sometimes the family stayed up to a year. They built meaningful relationships with local communities during these extended stays. Laxmi remembers a tribal girl who came to their compound daily for water. The children formed a special bond through play, dance, and Hindi music, even without sharing words.

Training in Dance: From Ballet to Bharatanatyam

Starting with Ballet, Jazz, and Flamenco

Early dance fascination showed up in Paris Laxmi’s life almost from her first steps. She watched a Flamenco performance at age three and was happy to start classes right away, but no teacher would accept such a young student. She ended up starting her formal dance education at age five with contemporary dance. Soon after, she added Jazz and Ballet to her repertoire.

Diverse dance education became the foundation of Paris Laxmi’s artistic growth. She trained in multiple Western dance forms by age five—Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Flamenco, and Hip-hop. This early exposure to different movement styles helped shape her versatility as a dancer and gave her unique views on rhythm, expression, and physicality.

Finding Bharatanatyam at age 9

The pivotal introduction to Bharatanatyam came during Paris Laxmi’s ninth year. Her family visited India annually to watch classical dance performances that captivated young Laxmi. Her mother searched and found that there was a Bharatanatyam teacher in their hometown of Aix-en-Provence. Armelle Choquard, a French disciple of renowned guru V.S. Muthuswami Pillai and Smt. Sucheta Chapekar, became her teacher.

Original training years with Armelle Choquard marked the beginning of Paris Laxmi’s experience in Indian classical dance. She devoted herself to this complex art form from age nine while continuing her Western dance styles. Her natural talent for movement and expression helped her learn the intricate footwork patterns and emotional aspects of Bharatanatyam. This laid the groundwork for her future specialisation in this form.

Learning under Indian dance legends

Advanced training progression took a new turn at age twelve. Paris Laxmi began learning under Dominique Delorme, another French disciple of V.S. Muthuswami Pillai and Padma Subrahmanyam, while continuing her lessons with Armelle Choquard. Learning from two teachers gave her different views on the same classical form and enriched her understanding of Bharatanatyam.

Immersive Indian education became a vital part of Paris Laxmi’s dance experience. She travelled to Pune to train under Smt. Sucheta Chapekar, who had taught her first teacher. She spent several months at Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam’s prestigious Nrithyodaya School of Dance in Chennai. This helped her absorb the nuances of Bharatanatyam tradition in its cultural homeland.

Balancing Western and Indian dance forms

Artistic integration became Paris Laxmi’s signature approach to dance. Each dance form added value to the others instead of staying separate. She explained, “Learning different styles allow for a holistic approach toward dance”. This connected understanding of movement traditions gave her performances a unique quality drawing from multiple cultural sources.

Mutually beneficial alliances showed Paris Laxmi’s understanding of cultural perceptions. She chose to showcase only her Bharatanatyam skills at first, putting aside her Western dance training. “For a while, I didn’t showcase the other western dance forms that I had trained in. I thought it was important that people identified me as a classical dancer, and as someone who understood and is a part of Indian culture”. This focus helped establish her credibility in the traditional Indian dance community.

Cross-cultural enrichment shaped her artistic development. After establishing herself as a Bharatanatyam dancer, she learned Kathakali—her husband Pallippuram Sunil’s specialisation. She noted that “The Kathakali way of using facial muscles helps me express bhavas better”. This showed how studying another classical form improved her Bharatanatyam performances. She reflected on her diverse training: “By learning all these dance forms, I have become a better Bharatnatyam dancer”.

A Career on Stage: Performances and Recognition

Performance milestones define Paris Laxmi’s artistic path as a 15-year-old Bharatanatyam artist. Her stage presence engages audiences throughout India. Temples and theatres serve as the canvas for her artistic expression.

Solo Bharatanatyam performances across India

Temple performances are the most important part of Paris Laxmi’s career, especially when she dances at the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple on Ashtami day. This moment became unforgettable as she saw Vaikkathappan (the deity) emerge from the sanctuary with elephants during her performance. Her growing career includes many more performances in Kerala’s temples and select theatres in Chennai.

Royal recognition arrived when Paris Laxmi performed for Prince Charles and his wife during their India visit. The Prince watched her perform “a small part from a tillana” and praised her footwork and expressions. He spoke to her in French and called the dance “incredible”.

Fusion works like ‘Sangamam – Krishna Mayam’

Collaborative creation with her husband Pallippuram Sunil led to their innovative duet ‘Sangamam’ in 2012. Note that their original production “Krishna Mayam” debuted in 2015. It beautifully combines Kathakali and Bharatanatyam to tell Lord Krishna’s stories. Sunil plays Lord Krishna while Paris Laxmi brings to life various characters including Radha, Draupadi, Kuchela, the Gopis, and Arjuna.

Extensive touring has brought “Sangamam – Krishna Mayam” to audiences in India, Gulf countries, and Europe. The show runs in temples, theatres, associations, and prestigious festivals. The production reached a special milestone with its 50th show at the Guruvayoor Temple, one of Paris Laxmi’s cherished memories.

Contemporary and Flamenco experiments

Environmental themes took centre stage in Paris Laxmi’s 2016 contemporary dance piece “Seasons on Earth.” This creation focused on environmental preservation and was showcased at Kalashakti Mandapam in Vaikom and the Kerala Museum in Kochi.

Flamenco mastery emerged in her 2017 creation at Kalashakti Mandapam and the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai. Her Flamenco solos showed remarkable range. “Tangos de la Sultana” burned with passion and fire, while “Como El Agua” (“Like the water” in Spanish) demonstrated her versatility. Her Flamenco-Kathak duet with Anonna Guha at ‘Confluence’ in Mumbai brilliantly revealed the connections between these unique art forms.

Participation in major festivals like Soorya

Festival highlights showcase Paris Laxmi and Pallippuram Sunil’s “Krishna’anubhuti” at the Singapore Polytechnic Auditorium in Dover during the July 2019 Soorya Festival. Their duet “Krishnamayam” also moved audiences at Soorya Kuwait Chapter.

Collaborative ventures expanded her artistic range through work with Odissi dancer Abhayalakshmi, whom Paris Laxmi calls her “soul sister”. She continues to create new projects, including jugalbandhi performances that expand traditional boundaries.

On Screen: Paris Laxmi in Film and Television

Debut in ‘Big B’ and rise with ‘Bangalore Days’

Paris Laxmi’s film beginnings can be traced back to 2007. She first appeared in Amal Neerad’s ‘Big B’ with Mammootty, where she danced in the song “Oh January”. The young artist’s meeting with Mammootty left a lasting impression. He asked her: “Are you interested in Cinema Laxmi?” and gave her some advice: “Good…learn Malayalam and come back”.

Seven years later, her career breakthrough came with Anjali Menon’s blockbuster ‘Bangalore Days’ (2014). She played Michelle, a foreign Bharatanatyam dancer who marries a Malayali—a role that reflected her real-life story. This role marked her first official appearance as an actress and earned her recognition from Malayalam cinema audiences.

Roles in Malayalam and Tamil films

Her Malayalam filmography grew steadily after this success. She played Angela in ‘Salt Mango Tree’ (2015) and took on the role of Unni’s wife in ‘Olappeeppi’ (2016). Her next role was Elen Richard in ‘Tiyaan’ (2017).

Success crossed language barriers when she played Michelle again in the Tamil version of ‘Bangalore Days’ called ‘Bangalore Naatkal’ (2016). She used her dance background in these performances and combined her artistic training with acting skills. Paris Laxmi shared her thoughts: “I love acting as much as I love to dance. I really don’t want to separate the two—they are two aspects of the same thing”.

Television appearances and reality shows

Paris Laxmi’s reality show success came in 2017-2018 when she won ‘Dare the Fear’ on Asianet. The show was shot in Thailand and Malaysia, where contestants faced physical and mental challenges through various stunts.

Her acting ventures on television included the role of Catherine in ‘Manchester Vazhi Manjadimukku Vare’ (2017). She also played Laxmi in the TV serial ‘Mahaguru’ on Kaumudy TV (2019).

Judging and performing on popular TV platforms

The year 2019 saw Paris Laxmi take on judging responsibilities for ‘D5 Juniors’ on Mazhavil Manorama. She had doubts about reality shows but changed her mind: “These kids changed all my inhibitions about reality shows and gave me new views about art”.

Her television journey continued as she judged ‘Comedy Stars Season 2’ on Asianet in 2020 and competed in ‘Dancing Stars’ (2022-2023). She also showcased her talents on shows like ‘Star Singer’ and ‘Comedy Stars Season 2’ (2021).

Personal Life and Kalashakti School of Arts

Marriage to Kathakali artist Pallippuram Sunil

First meeting: Paris Laxmi met Pallippuram Sunil in a remarkable way. She was just seven years old in 1998 when she saw him perform Krishna’s role at a Kathakali performance in Fort Kochi. Sunil, 21 years old then, supported her dance pursuits and helped arrange her performances over the years.

Wedding trip: The couple fell in love and after five years, they married at Vaikom Mahadeva Temple on September 14, 2012. They chose to follow Hindu traditions for their ceremony. Their wedding day coincided with Thiruvonam, connecting their anniversary to this significant Kerala festival.

Founding Kalashakti School in Vaikom

School establishment: The newlyweds created Kalashakti School of Arts in 2012, right after their marriage. They teach their specialised dance forms here. The school now thrives in Vaikom, where they’ve built a strong artistic community.

Theatre inauguration: They opened Kalashakti Mandapam in 2014, a combined theatre and classroom space in Vaikom. This artistic hub celebrated its second anniversary with a four-day festival during Onam 2016, showcasing professional artists.

Teaching and promoting classical arts

Educational mission: Sunil teaches Kathakali at Kalashakti while Paris Laxmi leads Bharatanatyam classes. Their school offers more than dance – students can learn Mridangam, Violin, and Carnatic Vocals.

Teaching philosophy: Paris Laxmi feels strongly about students who “are only interested in learning items, to win competitions, and not to master the art form”. She looks for students ready to dedicate themselves fully to dance.

Family life and cultural legacy

Cultural integration: Paris Laxmi converted to Hinduism a year before her wedding, showing her dedication to her new faith. She has deeply connected with Kerala’s culture in her adopted homeland.

Future vision: The couple wants a bigger space for their growing school. They aim to show dance enthusiasts “the possibilities of creativity, state-of-the-art and fusion in Indian classical dance forms”.

Key Takeaways

Paris Laxmi’s extraordinary journey from French ballet studios to Kerala’s classical dance stages demonstrates how cultural passion can transcend geographical boundaries and create meaningful artistic fusion.

• Born in France to artistic parents, Paris Laxmi began with Western dance forms before discovering Bharatanatyam at age nine, training under renowned masters in both France and India.
• Her marriage to Kathakali artist Pallippuram Sunil in 2012 led to innovative fusion performances like ‘Sangamam – Krishna Mayam’, blending Bharatanatyam and Kathakali traditions.
• Beyond stage performances, she successfully transitioned to Malayalam cinema with breakthrough role in ‘Bangalore Days’ and won reality show ‘Dare the Fear’.
• Together with her husband, she founded Kalashakti School of Arts in Vaikom, Kerala, dedicating themselves to teaching and preserving classical Indian dance forms.
• Her story exemplifies how authentic cultural immersion and dedication can bridge Eastern and Western artistic traditions, creating new possibilities for classical dance innovation.
• Paris Laxmi’s journey proves that artistic excellence knows no cultural boundaries when pursued with genuine passion and respect for tradition.

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