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Kalakshetra Bani

What alphabets are to a language, adavus are to Bharatanatyam. These basic components are combined to create coordinated movements of the body and lend it seamless continuity.



It was Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, the founder of Kalakshetra who collated and codified the adavus and the theoretical elements in the Bharatanatyam repertoire with great vision. She did this with the help of several stalwart Sanskrit and Tamizh pundits who researched traditional texts. She personally learnt the best aspects of the Pandanallur and the Devadasi traditions from the legendary Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai and Mylapore Gowri Ammal. She had earlier learnt the grace and precision of Western ballet from Cleo Nordi, chief disciple of Anna Pavlova, who had greatly inspired Rukmini Devi. This synergy between the various techniques she had learnt with such passion led to a unique sensibility and the style that evolved began to be called the 'Kalakshetra Bani'.

Style of rendering an adavu, placing the toes in a particular way, taking the bend to the maximum extent, stretching the arm to its fullness, the emphasis points, the manner in which you pirouette - are all aspects of this beautiful tradition that we will discover together!

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