La Sphère opening festival — Destiny (Free)
By
La Sphère
Sat Oct 03, 2026 from 03:00 PM to 07:30 PM
Timezone : Europe/Paris
9 Rue Saint-Gilles, Paris, France
It is because Destiny lies at the intersection of our rationality and our spiritual dimension, because it engages all aspects of the human mind, because it is intertwined with our deepest representations and challenges our modernity, that Destiny emerged as a first theme of particular interest to the initiators of La Sphère.
For its opening and the first event of the year devoted to the notion of Destiny, La Sphère is honored to welcome two remarkable figures, who will share different facets of China’s rich cultural heritage.
Practitioner and teacher of Shan Ren Dao, Tamara Staudt will explore the teachings of Wang Fengyi, an approach to self-knowledge rooted in filial piety and the traditional Chinese understanding of the five elements. Josh Paynter, co-abbot of a Quanzhen Longmen Daoist temple, will explore the Daoist conception of Destiny.
The evening will conclude with the presentation of a theatrical creation specially conceived for the occasion by actress and singer Hélène Gratet and singer-songwriter Alain Klingler: a selection of songs and texts that resonate with the theme of Destiny.
The event will be held in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation between the two languages.
PROGRAMME
• 15:00-15:15 | Welcome remarks
‣ Nissim Sultan, director and resident researcher, La Sphère
‣ Nissim Sultan, director and resident researcher, La Sphère
• 15:15-16:45 | Ming (命): the Daoist conception of Destiny
‣ Josh Paynter, specialist in Quanzhen Daoism
‣ Josh Paynter, specialist in Quanzhen Daoism
• 17:00-18:15 | The teachings of the Shan Ren Dao, « Path of the real person »
‣ Tamara Staudt, Shan Ren Dao practitioner and instructor
‣ Tamara Staudt, Shan Ren Dao practitioner and instructor
• 18:30-19:30 | A theatrical vignette on Destiny
‣ Hélène Gratet, director and resident artist, La Sphère
‣ Alain Klingler, singer and pianist
‣ Hélène Gratet, director and resident artist, La Sphère
‣ Alain Klingler, singer and pianist
SPEAKER & ARTIST BIOGRAPHIES
[ NISSIM SULTAN ]
Director and resident researcher, La Sphère
Nissim Sultan was trained in Talmudic academies (yeshivot) and at the Rabbinical School of France.
Director and resident researcher, La Sphère
Nissim Sultan was trained in Talmudic academies (yeshivot) and at the Rabbinical School of France.
[ JOSH PAYNTER ]
Specialist in Quanzhen Daoism
Josh Paynter is the co-abbot of Parting Clouds Daoist Temple, an international community of students of Quanzhen Longmen Daoism.
Specialist in Quanzhen Daoism
Josh Paynter is the co-abbot of Parting Clouds Daoist Temple, an international community of students of Quanzhen Longmen Daoism.
[ TAMARA STAUDT ]
Shan Ren Dao practitioner and instructor
Tamara Staudt offers annual Shan Ren Dao retreats in the United States. The indescribable experience of aliveness, intimacy and “realness” that occurs within the powerful alchemy of those coming together with common purpose has become a highlight of her year since the first United States retreat in 2011.
Shan Ren Dao practitioner and instructor
Tamara Staudt offers annual Shan Ren Dao retreats in the United States. The indescribable experience of aliveness, intimacy and “realness” that occurs within the powerful alchemy of those coming together with common purpose has become a highlight of her year since the first United States retreat in 2011.
[ HÉLÈNE GRATET ]
Director and resident artist, La Sphère
Hélène Gratet is an actress and artistic director who trained under Philippe Sire.
Director and resident artist, La Sphère
Hélène Gratet is an actress and artistic director who trained under Philippe Sire.
[ ALAIN KLINGLER ]
Singer and pianist
Alain Klingler is a singer-songwriter and stage director. He has released five albums, several of which have been praised by Télérama, and has performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Quebec.
Singer and pianist
Alain Klingler is a singer-songwriter and stage director. He has released five albums, several of which have been praised by Télérama, and has performed in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Quebec.
Intervenants et artistes
Date and place
Sat Oct 03, 2026 from 03:00 PM to 07:30 PM
Timezone : Europe/Paris
