Five World Famous Bharatnatyam Dancers Of India

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Bharatnatyam is an archaic dance form which dates back to about 2000 years, in time. Lord Brahma is known to have taught this dance form to Rishi Bharata, who compiled his learnings in the form of a book called Natyashastra whose main thrust was Indian drama and aesthetics. India has varieties of dance forms which spread from the courts of Kings and premises of temples, to well-choreographed dance performances on stage post-independence. Bha means Bhava or emotions. Ra means music or Raga; Ta means rhythm or Taal and Natyam means dance. Bharatnatyam totally draws from the concepts of music, rhythm, and expression as it is delineated in Natyashastra. Stalwarts and exponents of the varied dance forms have been responsible for popularising the ancient dance forms, especially the Bharatnatyam.

1. Mallika Sarabhai

Mallika Sarabhai was is a leading name in the galaxy of Bharatnatyam stars. She led as codirector, the Ahmadabad based performing arts academy by name Darpana which her mother had been running earlier. She is also a well acclaimed choreographer who has choreographed short dances and theatre dance. She was also an eminent theatre personality who played the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook's play "The Mahabharata". Mallika Sarabhai was the daughter of celebrity parents, the space scientist Vikram Sarabhai and classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai. She was hailed as a natural beauty with astounding brains.

2. Yamini Krishnamurthy

Yamini Krishnamurthy evinced interest in the dance forms at barely an age of five, and moved to Chennai in pursuit of a teacher. Having enrolled herself in the Kalakshetra which was run by Rukmini Devi, she rose to stardom with her first performance. Soon after that, she gave memorable performances the world over showcasing admirable skills at her craft. She revolutionised the dance form which won appreciation extensively. She has worked on several foxtrot compositions and wrote her autobiography, 'A Passion for Dance', which received favourable reviews. At the age of 70 years currently, she does not seem to be impacted by the vagaries of time and age, She is still working on newer pieces of work with vigour and passion even today.

3. Alarmel Valli

She was invited at the age of 16, to perform Bharatnatyam at the International Dance Festival of the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre De La Ville in Paris at the age of 16. Known for her legendary grace in dance movements, she was known to be a doyen of the ancient Pandanallur tradition of Bhratnatyam. Alarmel Valli has enriched this dance form by adding depth and dedication so rarely seen in today's artists. She added a creative touch to her dance movements and came to be known as the youngest dance to have received the Padma Shri award. She has performed extensively in all cultural hubs across the globe and proved her mettle in the cultural festivals conducted all over India.

4. Rukmini Devi Arundale

Rukmini Devi, was the daughter of an eminent sanskrit scholar Nilakanta Shastri who was closely associated with the theosophical society in Madras. She picked up the nuances of dancing at a very young age and toured the globe later along with her husband Dr. George Arundale, to disseminate the Indian cultural values. She played a main role in introducing Bharatnatyam into the cultural mainstream after it was banned under the British rule. Arundale is a bharatnatyam dancer and choreographer, and animal rights acvtivist. She was also nominated for election in the Rajya Sabha. She founded the Kalakshetra in Chennai. She elevated Bharatnatyam to a respectable position from a low and vulgar art to a celebrated art form.

5. Padma Subrahmanyam

Creator of a new style called Bharatnrytam, Subramanyam is a scholar, innovator, author and teacher par excellence. She also learnt music and completed Master degree in Carnatic music. One of the most respected dancers in the Indian classical dance scenario, she runs a school called "Nrutyodaya." She gave her first performance at the tender age of 13, studied the concept of Karanas and later received a PHD in indian dance and sculpture. The renowned critic Subbudu reviewed her performance by saying that it should be rightfully called Padma Natyam and not Bharatnatyam. Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subramanyam, held a talk and demonstration workshop in the Sangeet Natak Akademi recently,