5 Most Famous Bharatanatyam Dancers Of All Time

In terms of classical dance forms, India has a very rich dancing history. Bharatanatyam grew rapidly after India gained independence from British rule in 1947. Though the British attempted to banish Bharatanatyam traditions, it unexpectedly expanded beyond the confines of temples and religious ideas.

Posted On July 1st, 2021

Rukmini Devi

Rukmini Devi, who was born into an upper-middle-class family, was introduced to dancing at a young age. She and her husband, Dr. George Arundale, were given the opportunity to share their knowledge of Indian cultural values in Europe. She has been regarded as a staunch supporter and a revolution in reintroducing Bharatanatyam after its ban during British colonial rule.

Padma Subrahmanyam

The legendary Padma Subrahmanyam runs a school called “Nrutyodaya.” She is one of India's most renowned and respected classical dancers. She gave her first performance at the age of 13, after which she studied and researched Karana sculptures extensively. She also received a Ph.D. for her thesis on ‘Karanas in Indian Dance and Sculpture.

Alarmel Valli

She was invited to perform at the prestigious International Dance Festival of the Sarah Bernhardt Theatre De La Ville in the romantic city of Paris at the age of 16. Through her graceful dance moves, she is known to master the art of converting simple grammar into an ocean of poetry.

Yamini Krishnamurthy

Yamini Krishnamurthy was always eager to learn to dance and moved to Chennai at the age of five to pursue her passion. She enrolled in Kalashestra, the legendary dance school run by Rukmini Devi. Her first performance catapulted her to stardom overnight, and by 1960, she had toured extensively throughout the world, showcasing her skills and talent.

Mallika Sarabhai

Mallika Sarabhai, an acclaimed dancer, filmmaker, anchor, editor, social activist, and IIM Ahmedabad alumnus, is known to be a headstrong woman with an abundance of energy that she spreads wherever she goes. She is a Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi master, and she is an excellent example of beauty with brains.