Bharatnatyam is one of the most ancient dance forms, with a history spanning over 2000 years. This dance form is said to have been given by Lord Brahma to Rishi Bharata. The later wrote a book on Natyashastra, which was completely based on the aesthetics and drama of India. As a dance form, Bharatanatyam serves as a complete symphony of music, rhythm, and expressions. Here are some of the top ten Bharatnatyam dancers in India.
1. Rukmini Devi Arundale:
Rukmini Devi Arundale is also an Indian theosophist and animal welfare activist, apart from being an eminent Bharatnatyam dancer. She also serves as a choreographer of this dance form. She is also the very first female nominee in the history of Rajya Sabha. She is said to be the major force behind the resurgence of this dance culture following its decline during the British period. She is known to have transformed this dance form into an esteemed one for future generations.
2. Padma Subramanyam:
Padma Subramanyam is an Indian classical dancer who specializes in the Indian dance form of Bharatnatyam. She is an Indologist, an author and also a choreographer, apart from being a research scientist in this dance form. Apart from India, she is also popular and renowned in other countries such as Russia, Japan, and Australia. She is an eminent innovator knowledgeable scholar, and has also earned a master’s degree in Carnatic music.
3. Mallika Sarabhai:
She is a well-known name in the realm of Bharatanatyam. She also served as the co-director of the Darpana Performing Arts Academy in Ahmadabad following the reign of her mother. Apart from this, she has also choreographed and developed a number of short dances and theatre dances. She is the daughter of the famous space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. She is also known for her exceptional beauty and exceptional intelligence. She is known for performing the role of Draupadi from The Mahabharata through her intricate dance moves.
4. Alarmel Valli:
Being an eminent classical dancer, she is much celebrated for her ability to convey profound emotions through her dance moves. She is also known among her fans for her lyrical interpretations delicate gestures, and dance moves. She is best known for blending music and poetry seamlessly in all her dance performances. She is a legend to have popularized the dance form on international stages and in countries like the US, the UK, France, etc. She is very talented in creating thematic performances that combine Carnatic music with Tamil Sangam poetry.
5. Yamini Krishnamurthy:
She is indeed referred to as the dancing diva of Inia. She is known for throwing some of the most electrifying performances on the stage. As a dancer, she has excelled in both the Kuchipudi and the Bharatnatyam dance forms. She is known to have combined her dance expressions with her technical brilliance and has indeed broken all the barriers for women classical dancers during the 20th century. She has also established the Yamini School of Dance to mentor many young artists.
6. Shobana Chandrakumar Pillai:
Shobana is a renowned Bharatnatyam dancer and is also renowned for her contemporary approach to this dance form. Though she follows this approach, she still strives to maintain its classical roots intact. As a celebrated dancer and actress in the movie industry, she has integrated a number of dramatic elements into her dance. She is known to have created many unique masterpieces by combining Bharatanatyam with contemporary themes. She is the founder of the Kalarpana Foundation, to teaches and promotes the dance form among many young dancers. She also holds the Padma Shri for her contributions to dance.
7. Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai:
He is one of the greatest teachers of Bharatnatyam in India. She has thus played a major role in teaching the dance form to her successors and preserving this integral dance form. He specialized in the Tanjore style of Bharatanatyam and has trained a number of iconic dancers to her credit. His contributions have indeed helped in the survival of this traditional dance form across ages.
8. Bala Saraswathi:
She is one of the most eminent and renowned dancers who was instrumental in upholding the traditional dance form of Bharatnatyam as practiced in ancient times by the Devadasis. In all her dance performances, she has highlighted the rich spiritual and emotional depth of this art form. Her dances have international recognition and have been celebrated in many prestigious institutions, such as the Smithsonian in the United States. She has been honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship and a Padma Bhushan for her unique contributions to the Indian art form.
9. Chitra Visweswaran:
Chitra Visweswarn is known for her unique nuances while performing Bharatnatyam. She is also known among her fans for her innovative and interesting dance choreography. She has infact put in a lot of effort to expand the narrative boundaries of bharatnatyam. She has founded the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts. She has also blended the traditional style of the dance form with the modern themes, in her attempt to reach a wider target audience. She has also been honored with a Parma Sheri Award from the government as recognition for her pioneering works in classical dance.
10. Janaki Rangarajan:
Janaki Rangarajan is an exponent of Bharatnatnam in the recent times and is known for her technically precise performances and her dynamic onscreen presence. The best feature of her dance moves is that, her choreography often seems to integrate the contemporary and the traditional dance forms and themes. She has been continuously performing and spreading the dance form across the world, and is been gaining exceptional praise for her versatility. She is also keen on actively promoting Bhratnatyam through workshops and by giving guest lectures. She is indeed recognised to be the torch bearer for this dance form among the younger generation.
All of these dancers have indeed shaped the landscape of the traditional dance form of Bharatnatyam. They have indeed blended innovation and tradition in their dances, to continue its relevance in the modern times.
