Remembering The Women Who Brought Indian Classical Arts To The World Stage

We have all been enthralled by the grace and beauty of our various classical dance forms at some time or the other. It's the expression through the eyes, movement, poses and gestures, which transports the audience into the world of the performer. The dance forms might be diverse, ranging from Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, Kuchipudi or Mohiniattam, which are commonly known as the ‘Natya Shastra’, but they all have their distinct legacy and heritage. As the world celebrates International Dance Day today, we bring you some of the prominent exponents of Indian classical dance, who have mesmerised audiences not only in our country but worldwide with their grace and beauty.

Celebrating India's Classical Dance Legends on International Dance Day

Mrinalini Sarabhai

A dancer like Mrinalini Sarabhai needs no introduction. One of the best-known faces of Indian classical dance, Sarabhai was an expert in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Born in a Brahmin family, she received her education at Shantiniketan under the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore. It was there that the realisation hit her that her true love was dancing, and she decided to pursue a career in this art form.

The dynamic dancer believed that dance forms do evolve, but it was important for them to be developed from a traditional classical foundation. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1965 & Padma Bhushan in 1992 for he contribution to classical dance. Born to be a social worker and political activist, her foundation, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, focuses on teaching different forms of dance, music, theatre, and puppetry. The organisation also works towards women's empowerment and addresses other social issues relating to human rights and the environment. Mrinalini Sarabhai passed away in January 2016 at the age of 97, but her legacy is carried forward by her daughter, Mallika Sarabhai.

Mallika Sarabhai

Daughter of the classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and the legendary space scientist, Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an acclaimed actress and choreographer.. She began learning dance quite early in life and started performing when she was just a teenager.  The advantage of being in an artistically and enthusiastic environment, Mallika was trained by R. Acharyalu in Kuchipudi. She has portrayed the role of Draupadi in Peter Brook’s Mahabharata, which was made in two languages, English and French. Apart from that, she has also worked in some of the Gujarati and Hindi films. She has won the highest civilian award of France, known as the “French Palme D’or”. She also won the “Best Solo Artist” award among 44 dancers who had come from 25 countries. A true social activist, Sarabhai manages the Darpan Academy of Performing Arts, which not only nurtures young talent but also provides a platform for them.

Rukmini Devi Arundale

Rukmini Devi was a reputed Indian classical dancer and choreographer of Bharatnatyam. She founded the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai. Her father was involved with the Theosophical Society, and soon the young girl too followed the same. Eventually, her interest in theosophy led her to marry fellow British theosophist Dr. George Arundale. Along with her husband, she travelled all around the world meeting other theosophists and sharing ideas. Inspired by the famous Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, she decided to learn Bharatnatyam and eventually founded an academy of dance and music. She played a vital role in popularising Bharatnatyam all over the world. In 1956, Rukmini Devi was awarded the Padma Bhushan for her contribution towards the classical art form.

Shovana Narayan

Shovana Narayan, a renowned Kathak exponent, embodies a perfect blend of innovation and unwavering dedication to the classical disciplines of dance. A prolific writer, she has authored around ten books on the subject, including Indian Classical Dances, Performing Arts in India: A Policy Perspective, Indian Theatre and Dance Traditions, and Kathak: Rhythmic Echoes & Reflections.

Committed to nurturing new talent, she also organises two annual festivals that provide a platform for young and emerging dancers to showcase their artistry. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to dance, Shovana Narayan was honoured with the Padma Shri award in 1992. Among her many other accolades are the Rajiv Gandhi Puraskar, Indira Priyadarshini Samman, Rotary International Award, and Japan's Oisca Award

Sonal Mansingh

One of the most eminent names in Indian classical dance, Sonal Mansigh, is primarily an exponent of Odissi, although she can perform Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Chhau with the same flawless grace and energy. Besides dancing, Mansingh is a choreographer, teacher, orator and is also well-known as a social activist. Her contributions to the field of Classical arts are enormous.

In 1977, Sonal Mansingh founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances in New Delhi to train students in different dance forms. The organisation has been working to promote performing arts and nurture the cultural legacy of India. She is also the trustee of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. Additionally, as a social reformer, philosopher, examiner, speaker, choreographer and trainer, she became the first Indian woman dancer to be awarded the prestigious ‘Padma Vibhushan'.

Yamini Krishnamurthy

Born in a Telugu family in Tamil Nadu, Yamini Krishnamurthy started training in Bharatnatyam when she was merely five years old. She learnt the dance form at the Kalashetra School of Dance under the guidance of eminent dancer Rukmini Devi Arundale. In 1957, at seventeen years old, Yamini Krishnamurthy enthralled audiences with her debut performance. She was also well known for her rendition of the Kuchipudi dance style.

She was honoured by various awards for her contribution to the arts, including the prestigious Padma Shree by the Government of India. She received the Padma Bhushan in the year of 2001. Yamini ventured into production with a dance-based television show for Doordarshan and also wrote a book, ‘A Passion for Dance’. At the ‘Yamini School of Dance’ in New Delhi, established by her, young dancers get to experience her knowledge and wisdom firsthand. She passed in August 2024, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Padma Subramanyam

A rare combination of a flawless dancer, choreographer, music composer, singer, researcher and author, Dr. Padma Subramanyam is one of the most respected and reputed Bharatnatyam dancers of India. Over the years, she has performed on various platforms in India and abroad and caught the audience's attention. Her perfect body movements and hand gestures for many of her original musical scores add her personal, innovative touch to her performances.

She was the first to create and enact the popular dance recital 'Pushpanjali'. She is also responsible for adopting the Sukha Lasya technique, where an entire piece of ballet is expressed through the means of music, giving it a rhythmic and melodic form. With her years of expertise in classical dancing, Padma continues to actively research and compile new and different musical and dance repertoire. She was awarded the ‘Padma Shri’ in the year 1981 and then created history by receiving the Padma Bhushan in 1983 and then a second time in 2003.