and established a training institute called Kalashetra.
2- Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai:
Another popular Bharatanatyam dancer in India ever was Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, who was born on 22nd September, 1869. He received his training in the dance form from Kumaraswamy Nattuvanar and later went on to train Rukmini Devi in 1934. Some of his acclaimed
students were Jeevaratnam, Pandanallur Jayalakshmi, Kandappa and his son Mutthaiah
3- Mrinalini Sarabhai:
This great dancer learnt dance formally in Switzerland and started her Bharatanatyam training under Muthukumar Pillau when she came to India. Her other gurus were Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Ellapa Pillai and Chokalingam Pillai. She started a Bharatanatyam training institute called“ Darpana” in 1948 and also choreographed some successful dance dramas.
4- Balasaraswati:
Balasaraswati, born in 1918, was considered as one of the best Bharatanatyam dancers in the country. She started showcasing her talent in this art form at the young age of seven years, when she did her Arangetram at kamakshi Amman Temple in Kancheepuram. She was also an acclaimed singer and achieved great fame and success on global platform too, with her performance at Edinburgh Festival.
5- Mallika Sarabhai:
Another noted Bharatanatyam dancer in India is Mallika Sarabhai, who has additionally excelled as an actor, writer and publisher. Besides her excellence in the field of dance, she has participated actively in social work projects of the UN.
JANUARY 2018 | WWW. WISHESH. COM