Indian Classical Dancers

Indian classical dance has a distinct character that reflects the great cultural and
traditional endeavor. The forms of Indian dance have transcended beyond the fences and socio-cultural
hindrances. Exponents of the Indian classical dance believe that it has the caliber of creating a new and
disciplined lifestyle. The Indian Classical Dance is often regarded as the form of worship and meditation.
The performers of Indian Classical Dance, despite of the background and forms, have played a crucial role
in presenting India to the forefront of the World stage. It has helped in ending the erstwhile artistic isolation.
Here, in the following lines, we provide the profile and biography of those great artists who made the country
proud.

Born: 1954

Contributions
Mallika Sarabhai, a multifaceted personality, is a noted Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer. She has
immensely contributed to the fields of acting, writing and publishing. She is a social activist and has
participated in many socio-developmental projects initiated by the United Nations. Mallika Sarabhai has also
received the "French Palme D'or'', the highest civilian award of France.

Life
Born to famous dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and reputed space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is a woman
of many dimensions and talents. She is a noted dancer, film maker, TV anchor and social activist. Mallika
Sarabhai, an alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad, was trained by R. Acharyelu in Kuchipudi. As a young dancer,
Mallika won many international awards for her classical dance including the "French Palme D'or'', the
highest civilian award of France. In 1977, she took over the reigns of Darpana, the arts academy founded by
her parents.

Theater and Dances

Mallika Sarabhai's theatre works reflect the challenges of the society and sends a strong message. Her
natural charm with conviction creates a unique style of presentation. Following are some of the works
performed by her:

Unheard Voices
"Unheard Voices" is a physical, musical theatre piece. It is based on Harsh Mander's book "Unheard
Voices". The story is about the lives of marginalized faces - the beggars, children at the Traffic Signal and
"chhotu", the little child at roadside restaurant. These are stores of struggle and courage.

India
Then, Now, Forever: This revolves around the multiple lifestyle of the people of India. It attempts to show the
resemblance between the life of the tribal of Mizoram and their lifestyles with the bollywood. The show takes
the audience from the temples of southern India to the forests of the Dangs and the minds of today's
creators.
 Actor
Mallika Sarabhai started her acting career at the age of fifteen and has worked in more
than 30 films. In 1984, she played the character of Draupadi in "The Mahabharata",
directed by renowned director Peter Brook. The movie was launched in French and
English. Some of her critically acclaimed films include "Lovesongs: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow", Peter
Brook's "The Mahabharata", "Kahkasha", "A Thousand Flowers" and "Katha".

In 1982, she founded the "Darpana for Development" concentrating on the development of performance as
a language for change. She also formed "JANAVAK", the voice of the people, to archive and preserve the
folk and tribal culture of India.

Deeply excited by the possibility of continuing the work as an activist on TV, in 2001 she launched Darpana
Communications. She has also produced over 2500 hours of broadcast programming in Gujarati dealing,
with social issues like gender bias, communal hatred, the environment, corruption, violence etc.

Publisher
Mallika Sarabhai never tried to confine herself into a single character. After being recognized as a reputed
dancer and film actor, she has also made herself count in the world of publications. In 1979, Mallika
Sarabhai published India's first design magazine, called Inside Outside. Following are some of the
acclaimed books published by Mallika Sarabahi and Mapin Publishing Private Limited.

• India's Daughters
• Cultural Guide to Ahmedabad
• Spectacular India
• Jute Handlooms of India
• Sufism And Beyond
• Romance of Golconda Diamonds
• From Mustard Fields to Disco Lights
• Parvati: Goddess of Love
• Documenting Chandigarh
• Image & Imagination:5 Indian Artists
• Performing Arts of Kerala
• Understanding Kuchipudi (Co-Author)
• Krishna as Shrinathji: Miniature Paintings From Nathdwara

Social Thinker
In an effort to serve the society, Mallika Sarabhai took up many developmental projects including the "The
Acting Healthy Project" (2008). The project supported by ArtVenture took crucial learning on how to avoid
maternal deaths and infant deaths amongst the very deprived communities. Besides, she has also played an
active role in the UNICEF Peer Educators Project, UNICEF Anandshala Project in 2005- 2007 FATEHPURA
Model village project and UNICEF Rural Health Project.

Controversy
In 2001, she was criticized by the extreme right-wing political parties after she filed a Public Interest
Litigation in the Supreme Court of India. In the PIL, she had accused the BJP-led state government of
supporting the genocide against the Muslims in Gujarat.
 Born: February 4, 1938

Contributions
Birju Maharaj is a leading exponent and torch-bearer of the Kalka-Bindadin gharana of Lucknow. He is the
only son and disciple of Shri Achhan Maharaj and is a familiar face of Indian Kathak dance all over the
world. He has performed in almost all the countries of the globe. He is a wonderful singer with a strong grip
over, Thumri, Dadra, Bhajan and Ghazals. He gave his first performance at the age of seven. Pandit Birju
Maharaj is not only a Kathak dancer but also a sensitive poet and captivating orator.

Life
Birju Maharaj was born in the house of renowned Kathak proponent, Jagannath Maharaj of Lucknow
Gharana. His father, popularly known as Achhan Maharaj, used to spend much time in teaching young Birju,
the fundamentals of Kathak. Birju also accompanied his father to the places where Achhan Maharaj had to
go to perform. So, as a result, Birju Maharaj started learning dance forms at a very early stage. His uncles,
Lachhu Maharaj and Shambhu Maharaj also guided him in learning the Kathak dance. However, after the
death of his father in 1947, the family moved to Bombay. There, he mastered the different aspects of the
Kathak and other Indian classical dance forms. At the age of thirteen, he was invited to Delhi to teach at
Sangeet Bharati.

Teaching
Birju Maharaj, the master of Kathak, taught in Sangeet Bharati, Bharatiya Kala Kendra and headed the
teaching faculty Kathak Kendra (a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi) in Delhi. After his retirement from
Kathak Kendra, in 1998 Birju Maharaj started his own Kathak and Indian fine arts academy, Kalashram.

Kalashram
Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj had a dream of opening a dance-school and Kalashram is the real-
face of the dream. In Kalashram, the students are trained in the field of Kathak, and other associated
disciplines like vocal and instrumental music, yoga, painting, Sanskrit, dramatics, stagecraft etc.

The classrooms, practice halls and amphitheatre of Kalarshram reflect a shade of rural setup in the busy
and fast urban lifestyle. The natural atmosphere, with numerous trees and ponds would be extremely
inspiring and would bring everyone close to the simple, unassuming but rich heritage of the country.

The objective of the institute is primarily to produce highly talented students who would not only prove
worthy of the training they receive, but also live as modest, humble and disciplined members of today's
society.

Awards
Pandit Birju Maharaj has won several honors and awards including the coveted Padma Vibhushan (1986).
He has also been awarded with the Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh, Soviet Land
Nehru Award, Sangam Kala Award. In 2002, He was the recipient of the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar.
Pandit Birju Maharaj has also been conferred with the honorary Doctorate degrees from Banaras Hindu
University, and Khairagarh University.
 Born: February 29, 1904
Passed Away: February 24, 1986
Contributions
Rukmini Devi Arundale was a reputed dancer and choreographer of Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical
dance form. Her charismatic personality and contribution to the renaissance of Indian Classical music
attained her niche in the arena of Indian culture. It is believed that Rukmini Devi had declined the chair of the
President of India, once offered by Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister of India. Rukmini Devi was also
known for her efforts towards the protection of animal rights and their welfare.

Life
Rukmini Devi Arundale was born on February 29, 1904, to Neelakanta Sastri and Seshammal. Her father,
an engineer with the Public Works Department, was a dedicated member of the Theosophical Society
formed by Annie Besant. After his retirement, Neelakanta Sastri shifted to Madras (now, Chennai). The
family built their house, near the headquarters of Theosophical Society at Adyar. Her father's involvement in
the Theosophical Society paved the way for Rukmini to come under the umbrella of Annie Besant's
influence, at an early stage.

Marriage
Rukmini Devi first met Dr George Arundale, in 1917. He was an active member of the Theosophical Society.
Arundale was also in-charge of the organization's paper, "New India". Fascinated by Rukmini Devi's love for
the mankind and humanity, Dr Arundale, in 1920, married her with the approval and support of her family.
The marriage created a huge uproar in the society, especially the conservatives. They couldn't accept the
fact that a Brahmin girl can marry outside the prevailing caste-system.

Dance
Though she belonged to the upper-caste, Rukmini Devi advocated the cause of Bharatnatyam, considered
as a low and vulgar art during that period. She began to learn dance performances from Mylapore Gauri
Ammal. She also convinced proficient Meenakshisundaram Pillai to come to Madras to teach her. Rukmini
Devi gave her first performance at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of the Theosophical Society in 1935.

Kalakshetra
Within a year after her first performance at the Theosophical Society, Rukmini Devi and Dr George Arundale
formed the Kalakshetra. The name was decided by Pandit S. Subramania Sastri, a Sanskrit scholar and
member of the academy. All the members were deeply committed to the Theosophical society and as well
as Kalakshetra. S. Sarada, Radha, Leelavati (Rukmini's niece) were among the first to join Kalakshetra.
Many renowned dancers including Meenakshisundaram Pillai, Muthukumara Pillai and Karaikkal
Saradambal Ammal joined the Kalakshetra as its teachers.

Anna Pavlova
After her marriage, Rukmini Devi met the legendary ballerina, Anna Pavlova on a ship to Australia. Rukmini
Devi was enthralled by the great artiste. Ever since, she began to attend different performances of Pavlova's
in Australia. It was on Pavlova's request that Rukmini Devi learnt "ballet".

Vegetarianism
Rukmini Devi was against the custom of killing and sacrificing of animals. She also acted as the Vice
President of International Vegetarian Union for 31 years, until her death in 1986.
 Awards
In 1956, Rukmini Devi was awarded the Padma Bhushan and in 1967, received the
"Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship". She also featured in India Today's list of '100
People Who Shaped India'.

Contributions
Shovana Narayan is a Kathak Maestro and an outstanding dancer. She is an incarnation of the great artistic
and social traditions of India. She created a new and innovative style of performing arts by enriching it with a
deeper and wider canvas of expression and dimensions. She has been awarded with Padmashri in 1992
and Sangeet Natak Academy Awards in 1999.

Life
Shovana Narayan established herself as a dancer during 1970s and the last four decades have seen her
captivating audiences in numerous dance festivals. Trained by legendary Kathak maestro Pandit Birju
Maharaj and Kundanlal Gangani at Kathak Kendra, Delhi, Shovana Narayan is known for her strong urge for
experimentation. She has set a unique trend by redefining dance and often considered as a living legend in
the field of art. Narayan is the first ever professional dancer who combines a full fledged career as a senior
serving civil servant in the Government of India.

Shovana Narayan has also worked with many western dancers and musicians. Some of her choreographic
works like "Moonlight Impressionism" and "The Dawn After" have been successful in bringing out the true
color of different dance and musical forms.

Shovana Narayan is an alumnus of Miranda House, Delhi University. She is married to Dr. Herbert Traxl,
former Austrian Ambassador to India. Shovana Narayan was the first dancer to work on philosophical
themes and on the lives of contemporary sages such as Vivekananda, Ramana Maharshi, Ramkrishna
Paramhansa and Mahatma Gandhi. She is also the first dancer to have rejuvenated the soliloquy tradition,
the narrative tradition of the North-Indian dance form in "Shakuntala".

Author
The noted Kathak dancer has written around ten books on the subject of dance. Shovana Narayan also
organizes two festivals for providing a platform to the young, unknown and talented faces of the field. Some
of her well-known books are:

• "Indian Classical Dances"

• "Performing Arts in India: A Policy Perspective"
• "Indian Theatre and Dance Traditions"
• "Kathak: Rhythmic Echoes & Reflections"
• "The Dance Legacy of Patliputra"
• "Sterling Book of Indian Classical Dances"
• "Folk Dance Traditions of India"

Awards
Shovana Narayan has been conferred with numerous awards including the Padmashri Award for excellence
and outstanding contribution to dance in 1992 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1999. Besides, she
 has also been awarded with Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini Samman, and
Rotary International Award and Japan's Oisca Award.

Born: May 1, 1944

Contributions
Sonal Mansingh is an eminent Indian classical dancer and a leading exponent of Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi,
and Chhau. Besides being a dancer, Sonal Mansingh is a well-known choreographer, teacher, orator and a
social activist. For her contributions in the field of "Classical dancing" she has received accolades from many
national and international organizations. She was the youngest recipient of Padma Bhushan, in 1992. In
2003, Sonal became the first Indian woman dancer to be awarded with Padma Vibhushan.

Life
Sonal Mansingh was born to Arvind and Poornima Pakvasa on May 1, 1944 in Mumbai. Her mother was a
noted social activist and in 2002 awarded with Padma Bhushan. Her grandfather was Mangal Das Pakvasa,
a freedom fighter, and one of the first five Governors of India. She has B.A. (Honors) degree in German
Literature from Elphinstone College, Bombay.

Learning
Sonal Mansingh started learning fundamentals of Bharatnatyam from Guru Kumar Jayakar at the age of
seven, at the Pandanallur school in Bombay. Later, she learnt Bharatanatyam from Professor U S Krishna
Rao and Chandrabhaga Devi at Bangalore. Her maiden professional performance was at Mumbai in 1964.
In 1965, she learnt Odissi from Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She learnt almost all the dance numbers,
which are currently in the repository of Odissi. Sonal aggrandized her dance by acquiring the different
strands of Orissa culture. Sonal has made much choreography on Indian mythology. Her renowned
choreographic works include 'Indradhanush', Manavatta', 'Sabras', 'Devi Durga', 'Aatmayan', 'Mera Bharat',
'Draupati'.

Sonal Mansingh believes that society and its happenings have an impact on all arts and subsequently on the
artists. To her, dance is the medium through which she can present the views of the unheard. According to
her, dancers must have love for literature, poetry, languages, sculpture and painting as dance is a rare
confluence of all these arts.

Centre for Indian Classical Dances

In 1977, Sonal Mansingh founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances in New Delhi to train students in
Indian classical dance. The organization has been working to promote performing arts and nurturing the
cultural legacy of India. She is also the trustee of the largest institution in India, the Indira Gandhi National
Center for Arts.

Awards
Sonal Mansingh is the youngest recipient to receive the Padma Bhushan awarded by the President of India
in 1992. Besides, she has received several other honors for her contribution to dance, a few of which are
listed below. It includes the, 'Singar Mani' from Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, 'Natya Kala Ratna' from
National Cultural Organisation, 'Rajiv Gandhi Excellence Award', 'Indira Priya Darshini Awards', Medals of
 Friendship of Vietnam and Cuba State Council etc. Rewarded with Padma Vibhushan in
2003, Sonal becomes the first Indian woman dancer to receive this high honor.

Born: December 8, 1900

Passed Away: September 26, 1977

Contribution
Uday Shankar initiated a unique movement of revival of classical dances in 1930. Though he had no formal
training in any classical form, his presentations were creative. Uday Shankar used the essence of various
traditions and techniques in his dance dramas and succeeded in presenting an integrated composition. The
government of India awarded Uday Shankar with the coveted "Padma Vibhushan.

Life
Born in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Uday Shankar was the eldest son of noted barrister Syam Shankar. He was the
eldest of the four siblings. His youngest brother, Rabindra is a popular sitar maestro and familiar to all as
"Pandit Ravi Shankar".

Besides an adept classical dancer, Uday Shankar also had the brilliance of a painter within. To develop his
skills further, he was sent to the J. J. School of the Arts in Bombay. In 1920, Uday Shankar went to England
to study painting at the Royal College of Art, London. There, he choreographed two ballads, based on the
stories of Radha and Krishna and the other on "A Hindu Wedding". He also met famous Russian ballerina,
Anna Pavlova at Covent Garden, where his ballads were premiered.

Own Troupe
In 1929, Uday Shankar returned to India to form a dance troupe of his own. Between 1930 and 1960, he
toured through the western world and learned the western theatrical techniques. He also knitted the two
different techniques so beautifully that his art became hugely popular both in India and the West.

In 1938, Uday Shankar opened a dance school at Almora, Uttar Pradesh. He also invited leading exponents
of different musical forms to teach in the school. Among the experts were, Shankaran Namboodiri for
Kathakali, Kandappa Pillai for Bharatanatyam, Amobi Singh for Manipuri and Ustad Allauddin Khan. Later,
the school came to be known as "Uday Shankar Indian Culture Center". During the World War-II, the "Uday
Shankar Indian Culture Center" was forced to shut and was reopened twenty years later, but in Calcutta.

Family
Uday Shankar was married to one of his students Amala and also had a son and a daughter. Ananda
Shankar, his son, was best known for his fusion in Western and Eastern musical styles. He was married to
classical dancer Tanushree Shankar.

After Uday's death in 1977, his widow Amala Shankar took the charge of the school in Kolkata. The school
continues to teach an all-embracing performance curriculum that includes training in folk and classical
dance, improvisation, costume design etc.

Awards
Uday Shankar was awarded with "Padma Vibhushan" by the Government of India and the Desikottama by
the Visva-Bharati University.
 Born: 1940

Contributions
Yamini 'Poornatilaka' Krishnamurthy, better known as Yamini Krishnamurthy is a renowned Kuchipudi and
Bharatnatyam dancer. She is also considered as the torch-bearer of the Kuchipudi form of dance. She
started her career with a dance performance in 1957, at the age of seventeen years. Yamini led an eventful
dancing career and has been honored with Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan by the government of India.

Life
Yamini Krishnamurthy is an eminent dancer and one of the major figures of Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi
dancing. She was born into a Telugu family on a full moon night in 1940 at Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh.
Her grandfather, a noted Urdu poet, named her `Yamini Poornatilaka`, meaning, "a beautiful mark on the
brow of light". Since childhood, Yamini was fond of dancing and wanted to become a dancer.

Training
Yamini Krishnamurthy received the initial training of Bharatnatyam from Rukmini Devi Arundale.at
Kalakshetra School of Dance, Chennai. She was, later, groomed by eminent masters like Kanchipuram
Ellappa Pillai and Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai. She learnt Kuchipudi under the guidance of Vedantam Lakshmi
Narayana Shastri, Chinta Krishnamurthy and Pasumarthy Venugopal Krishna Sharma. Besides
Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi, Yamini also learnt Odissi from Guru Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan
Mahapatra.

In 1957, at the age of seventeen years, Yamini Krishnamurthy performed her debut dance event in Chennai.
Ever since, she had a colorful and eventful dancing career. Within three years of her maiden performance,
Yamini became one of the most admired dancers of the country. Her performances brought accolades from
national and international recognition arena. Yamini appeared as one of the leading classical dancers of
India.

To impart training to younger dancers, Yamini Krishnamurthy started the 'Yamini school of Dance' in Delhi in
1990. She has also made a special program on dance for Doordarshan channel. Her book 'A Passion for
Dance' was well-received and appraised by the critics.

Awards
For her contribution in the development and promotion of the Indian classical dance forms, Yamini was
recognized as "Asthana Nartaki" (resident dancer) of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam. Her dancing
career brought her many awards, including the coveted Padma Shree in the year 1968 and the Padma
Bhushan - the second highest civilian awards of the India, in 2001. She was also honored with the Sangeet
Natak akademi Award in 1977