Mallika Sarabhai is a performer and creator of many talents. Her career has developed from being a young, internationally acclaimed, classical dancer and film personality, to being an activist and commentator on social issues. Now an established artist she celebrates positive reaffirmation of images of womanhood through dance, theatre and writing. Following the rich and inspiring model of her mother Mrinalini, Mallika has placed herself firmly at the cutting edge of Indian dance and dance [...]
Chitra Vishweswaran is one of most distinguished and leading Bharatnatyam dancers of India. Chitra’s mother Smt. Rukmini Padmanabhan recognized her talent when she was just three years old. Her father was a Railway Adviser at the Indian High Commission in London. She started taking Classical Ballet lessons in London. She also took training in Manipuri and Kathak, later in Kolkata. Chitra learnt Bharatnatyam from the maestro Smt. T. A. Rajalakshmi for 10 years. She surprised [...]
Mrinalini Sadananda is an internationally recognized Kuchipudi dancer, an Indian classical dance. She is also a distinguished teacher and an outstanding choreographer. Mrinalini Sadananda belongs to a family of artists. All her seven brothers and sisters excelled in one art form or another. Her father Vinjamuri Parthasarathy Iyengar was an established lawyer but had keen interest in music and loved violin. Her mother Smt. Kamala Devi was a housewife and an excellent violinist. Mrinalini Sadananda [...]
‘Dance for the Lord’ is Odissi’s tradition. Sanjukta Panigrahi, the legendary Odissi dancer maintained this custom all through her life. The dedicated dancer played a pivotal role in reviving the Odissi dance form in India and popularizing it in abroad. She was given the title Padmashri by the Government of India in recognition of her priceless contribution to Indian dance. She was also awarded the Sangeet Kala Academy Award. Sanjukta Panigrahi was born on 24.08.44 [...]
Raja and Radha Reddy, the world famous dancing couple, excel in the art of Kuchipudi, They have taken this dance to a new height by adhering to the traditional style and technique of Kuchipudi dance. They are named among the major dancers of India for their excellence and perfection in this dance form. Both of them were born the state of Andhra Pradesh, Raja Reddy was born in 1944 in Narsapur and Radha Reddy in [...]
Pt. Birju Maharaj Probably the greatest exponent of Kathak, Pt Birju Maharaj was born on 4th February 1938. He belongs to the Kalka-Bindadin Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. Named Brij Mohan, he is the son of legendary Achchan Maharaj of Maharaj family of Kathak dancers. Brij Mohan was into dancing from the initial years of life. Trained by his uncles Shambhu Maharaj and Lachchu Maharaj he gave his first performance at the age of seven. After [...]
Vempati Chinna Satyam is a legendary dancer and guru of Kuchipudi dance form. This exquisite art form was popularized worldwide by him. He was born on 26th October , 1929, in a traditional family of dancers, at a small village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh. He started learning this dance form at the tender age of nine. Under the guidance of three great Gurus, Vempati Chinna Satyam mastered in Kuchipudi. Initially he learnt from Sri [...]
