Sanctuary Within

Sanctuary Within  is a powerful, immersive celebration of maloya — the sacred improvised music, dance and ritual form of Réunion Island. Presented over two live performances, including a rare durational performance based on the form of servis kabaré, this work blends rhythm, chant, electronic music and movement into a collective ceremony of release, remembrance, and resistance.

Maloya — once banned for its ties to enslaved peoples — returns here in force. A heartbeat. A reclamation. A sanctuary.

At the heart of this project is a first-time collaboration led by Réunionese artistic director, researcher and multidisciplinary artist Dr Muriel Hillion Toulcanon, her band Salama and special guest, Kaloune. A gifted songwriter, singer, and dancer, Muriel brings a deep-rooted knowledge of maloya — both as a cultural tradition and as a living, evolving practice. Her movement work and creative direction are grounded in rhythm and storytelling giving the piece its emotional depth and magnetic energy. Poet and musician Kaloune brings her vibrant, contemporary voice, tracing Afro-descendant histories and ancestral memory. Together with fifteen dancers and musicians, they forge a new space for maloya — where music is both alive, healing and resistance.

The project unfolds across two distinct live events: a family-friendly performance at Goolugatup, and a 6-hour immersive experience rooted in the tradition of servis kabaré — a gathering of dance, food and music at the Manjaree Precinct. Both invite you to gather, witness and move to the heartbeat of something ancient, urgent and alive.