Rukmini devi arundale: I

i, I present to you, S. tr, S mt. Rukmini. D eVl . Arundale. Smt. Rukmini Devi was born in 19°4, in Madurai, in a family with a rich heritage of learning in music and Sanskrit. Her interest in dance was awakened by the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, under whom she also had her initial training in the art. The only Indian who made it to this list is the legendary Bharatnatyam exponent, theosophist and founder of Kalakshetra, Rukmini Devi Arundale. Honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1956, Rukmini is best known for her visionary work in the fields of dance, culture, and education that catalysed a renaissance in Indian classical dance forms. However, few know that this charismatic lady could have been India’s first female president had she accepted an offer by the then-prime minister in 1977 ... Rukmini Devi Arundale, who was born on February 29, 1904, and died on February 24, 1986, was an Indian theosophist, Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer, and animal rights, campaigner. Despite criticism and controversy, Rukmini Devi Arundale’s legacy endures as a visionary who transformed Bharatnatyam into a holistic art form, blending tradition with innovation, spirituality with aesthetics, and individual expression with group dynamics. Her enduring impact on Bharatnatyam and the broader world of dance cannot be overstated.