Fr Saju George, 47, is not your typical Jesuit priest. A quick Google search yields several photographs of him in a dazzlingly bright pair of trousers, a bare torso and theatrical make-up, striking a sculpturesque pose.

‘Dancing Jesuit’ Fr Saju George’.

Known as ‘the dancing Jesuit’, the Indian priest has travelled the world using a classical Indian dance form to choreograph several dances based on Biblical episodes.

Sitting in the lobby of St Aloysius College, Fr George is more conservatively dressed.

It is his first time in Malta, he explains, having been brought over to conduct a series of talks and performances sponsored by the Sharma Ethnic Cuisines of Mdina.

Hailing from a community in the south western state of Kerala, which has deep Christian roots, Fr George had always been fascinated by the folk dances his schoolmates performed at Hindu festivals and temple functions.

As a child, he once witnessed someone dancing Bible stories through Indian classical dance. The idea of expressing biblical faith and spirituality using this art form left a lasting imprint on his mind.

As a young man, Fr George joined the Jesuit Province in Calcutta where, inspired by Mother Teresa whom he met a number of times, he hoped to work as a missionary with India’s poorest people.

In effect, Fr George now runs a social welfare and humanitarian centre called Nest of Peace, as well as The Art Peace Foundation and The Universal Home of Art and Culture.

Everything is full of life and expression, rhythm and beauty

Through these institutions, he supports several poor people with educational and various humanitarian projects.

He also helps homeless poor people build small houses.

Spotting his talent at the age of 22, his Jesuit superiors encouraged him to study dance more formally. He began to immerse himself in India’s great traditions of classical dance, mainly the ancient Hindu temple art of Bharatanatyam.

After his ordination, he read for a PhD in the Philosophy and Religion of Indian Classical Arts.

How does he reconcile a traditionally Hindu religious practice with Catholic spirituality?

“Dancing is a form of expression of one’s emotions and sentiments. It’s a way of respecting the culture of my country. Essentially, it’s an inter-religious dialogue.

“You’re expressing Christian values in the context of India and its Hindu culture. It’s another technique of storytelling.”

He explains how Bharatanatyam incorporates hundreds of highly stylised hand gestures, each with an individual meaning.

Mime and acting are integral to the dance, with nine basic emotions reflected in facial expressions.

He composes his own music, set to his own choreography which he performs during Mass, retreats, workshops and seminars.

His dances tell the story of various Bible episodes or even the lives of saints, where he impersonates different characters.

The highly learned Jesuit also supervises a number of PhD theses. How would he articulate his very particular experience of being a dancing Jesuit? “I feel a lot of joy when I pray using my body,” he said.

“I can feel the inner beauty and liveliness of God’s creations.

“My experience as a dancer allows me to look at it all through a different eye – everything is full of life and expression, rhythm and beauty.

“Through a mixture of dance, theatre, spirituality and philosophy, I aim to give happiness and peace to others through art.”