In the vibrant tapestry of the Indian arts and performing arts, women have been a powerhouse of talent. Singers, storytellers, theatre artists, painters… Indian women have been pioneers in their creative fields. But the repertoire of women dancers remains unparalleled. With e very sway of the hand and twirl of the ankle, these dancers embody grace and poise, preserving cultural legacy and brimming with artistic mastery. On the occasion of International Dance Day, let’s take a look at these remarkable women dancers!
Mrinalini Sarabhai
Mrinalini Sarabhai was a renowned classical dancer who made significant contributions to the dance industry. She was the first woman to perform Kathakali, an all-male style of the performing arts, and she also founded the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, which offers instruction in dance, music, drama, and puppetry. She used dance as a vehicle to speak out against communalism, environmental degradation, and social injustice. She was the first to establish Bharatanatyam as a highly esteemed dance form that was made acceptable outside of temples as well.
Mallika Sarabhai
Renowned Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer Mallika Sarabhai is the daughter of the late classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. Mallika became well-known at the age of fifteen when she played Draupadi in Peter Brook’s Mahabharata drama. Her 1989 solo theatrical production of Shakti: The Power of Women offered a taste of the dancer’s skill at using dance to draw attention to social issues. Over 500 performances of her theatrical piece Sita’s Daughters have taken place worldwide in three different languages. This IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan, is a strong advocate for women’s empowerment and is the current director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad.
Dona Ganguly
Dona Ganguly is the better half of one of cricketing history’s most well-known faces. But she never let that stop her from pursuing her own career as an Odissi dancer. Even as icon Sourav Ganguly’s wife, she crafted her own identity as a cultural force to reckon with. As a child, Dona received training in Odissi from the renowned Padma Vibhushan recipient Kelucharan Mohapatra. She is currently the director of the Diksha Manjari dance school in Kolkata, which has more than 2000 students, and has represented India at a number of international cultural events.
Rukmini Vijayakumar
Rukmini Vijayakumar is an actress and dancer who has perfected the uncommon art of being a ballet and Bharatnatyam performer. Rukmini studied Bharatnatyam as a child and later graduated with a BFA in ballet and modern dance from the Boston Conservatory. Some of the most famous venues in the world, including the Royal Opera House in London, the Drive East Festival in New York City, the Korzo Theatre in The Hague, and the Jacobs Pillow Festival in Massachusetts, have hosted her solo performances. In addition to acting in a handful of Tamil and Hindi movies, Rukmini is the artistic director of the Raadha Kalpa Dance Company in Bengaluru.
Padmini Chettur
Renowned Indian contemporary dancer Padmini Chettur trained under the iconic dancer-choreographer Chandralekha. Chettur is renowned for her inventive approach and modern style which she incorporates into her works. Her performances are distinctive and enthralling because she blends modern dance forms with traditional Indian classical dance. She is still creating and exploring new concepts in contemporary dance, and her works have been performed extensively both in India and abroad. Chettur has received praise and acclaim on a global scale for her contributions to the Indian modern dance industry.
Usha Jey
Even if Jey's name is unfamiliar, her performances certainly aren’t! It is hard to have missed her viral Instagram video, which had nearly 5 million views. She was seen dancing to Lil Wayne’s Uproar, wearing a patterned bottle-green Kalakshetra sari and fusing hip-hop with Bharatanatyam in a way that only she can! Usha Jey is a dancer, choreographer, and movement director who has taken her dance form to a global platform by participating in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK.
Image source: Hindustan times, Talents of world, Storypick, Twimg