5 Famous bharatanatyam dancers of India.

Bharatanatyam originally known as Sathiraattam, is a major genre of Indian Classical Dance, that originated in Tamil Nadu. Bharatanatyam is one of the ancient classical dances of India. Bharatanatyam dance is considered to be over 5000 years old.

Let's take a look at the 5 most famous bharatanatyam dancers of India, who have kept our culture of dance alive in India as well as abroad.

1. PADMA SUBRAHMANYAM.



credit: third party image reference

Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, is an Indian classical bharatanatyam dancer. She is also a research scholar, choreographer, music composer, musician, teacher, indologist and author. Several films and documentaries have been made in her honor by countries such as Japan, Australia and Russia. Dr. Padma has received many awards and honors to her credit, including Padma Shri in 1981 and Padma Bhushan in 2003, which are among the highest civilian awards of India.

2. RUKMINI DEVI ARUNDALE.

credit: third party image reference

Rukmini Devi Neelakanda Shastri was an Indian theosophist, dancer, and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist. She is the first

woman in Indian history to be nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha. Rukmini Devi features in "India Today's" list of "100 People Who Shaped India". She has been awarded with the Padma Bhushan in 1956 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967.

3. MRINALINI SARABHAI.

credit: third party image reference

Mrinalini Vikram Sarabhai was an Indian classical dancer, choreographer and instructor. She was the founder and director of the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts. She is the wife of the Indian space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. She has been awarded by the Indian Government with the national civilian awards, Padma Bhushan in 1992 and the Padma Shri in 1965.

4. BALASARASWATI.

credit: third party image reference

Tanjore Balasaraswati, also known as Balasaraswati, was a celebrated Indian dancer. She was the first performer of the traditional dance style outside of South India, performing first in Calcutta. She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977, by the Government of India. In 1981, she was awarded the Sangeetha Kalasikhamani award of the Indian Fine Arts Society.

5. MALLIKA SARABAI.

credit: third party image reference

Mallika Sarabhai Shah is an activist and Indian classical dancer and actress from Gujarat, India. She is the daughter of famous classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai. She is an accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer and performer.

Thank you.