Contents
Rukmini Devi Arundale
Founding Kalakshetra and helping reshape the modern presentation of Bharatanatyam.
Kalakshetra · Kutrala Kuravanji
- Born
- 29 February 1904
- Birthplace
- Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Died
- 24 February 1986
More people
Rukmini Devi Arundale
An Indian dancer, choreographer and institution-builder whose work brought classical dance to new audiences. That transformation also forms part of debates about caste and the marginalisation of hereditary dancers.
Early life
Musical household
Grew up in a family interested in music and the Theosophical movement.
Dance studies
Interest in ballet led toward Bharatanatyam training with established practitioners.
Career
- 1935
Public dance debut
Presented Bharatanatyam publicly after beginning training as an adult.
- 1936
Kalakshetra
Founded the arts institution in Madras.
- 1940s onward
Dance dramas
Developed productions combining choreography, music and visual design.
- 1952
Rajya Sabha
Was nominated to India’s upper house of parliament.
Performances & institutions
Kalakshetra
Created a centre for dance, music and related arts.
Kutrala Kuravanji
An early major dance-drama production.
Ramayana productions
Developed a cycle of staged works drawing on the epic.
Beyond dance
Animal welfare
Led animal-welfare work and advocated vegetarianism.
Theosophy
Married George Arundale and remained closely involved with the Theosophical Society.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: The original uploader was ImpuMozhi at English Wikipedia .. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
