Rukmini Devi Arundale (29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam, and also an activist for animal rights and welfare.She is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam from its original 'sadhir' style, prevalent amongst the temple dancers, Devadasis. Arundale formally trained under Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, a respected nattuvanar (male bharata natyam director), and gave her first public performance, at the Theosophical Society, in 1935. It was on one of her travels that Rukmini Devi met the famed ballerina, Anna Pavlova, at Covent Gardens, London. Together, the high school, the senior secondary school, and the arts academy became the Kalakshetra Foundation. Rukmini Devi Arundale. Rukmini Devi Arundale — (* 29. In recognition of her services to Indian culture, Arundale received the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honours, in 1956. She was also a theosophist who was greatly inspired by Annie Besant, the … To add contemporary sophistication to the productions, she adopted a dance-drama format. About Rukmini Devi Arundale Rukmini Devi Neelakanda Sastri (29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist for animal rights and welfare. Anna Pavlova chiese a una delle sue ballerine più brave, Cleo Nordi, d'insegnare danza a Rukmini, e più tardi la incoraggiò, piuttosto che a perfezionarsi nel balletto classico, a riscoprire la danza tradizionale indiana. ... elite woman privileged to travel the world when she was barely 25 years of age and empowered to work for global causes in Europe, Australia, England and America. She is considered the most important revivalist in the Indian classical dance form of Bharatnatyam from its original ‘sadhir’ style, prevalent amongst the temple dancers, Devadasis, she also worked for the re-establishment of traditional Indian arts and crafts. 14:21:00 india, world. L'anno seguente, Rukmini, insieme al marito e ad altri membri della Società Teosofica, diede vita a un'accademia di danza che prese il nome di Kalakshetra ("luogo sacro delle arti"). Arundale conceived and choreographed numerous bharata natyam pieces in the new style, including six dances derived from the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana, which have remained among her best-known works. The foundation aimed to preserve and popularize bharata natyam and other Indian Pavlova also advised Arundale to seek inspiration in traditional Indian arts. Nilakanta Sastri was very closely associated with Theosophical Societybase… Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). La conoscenza s'approfondì nel corso di un lungo viaggio per mare dall'India all'Australia, nel quale la coppia si trovò sulla stessa nave della ballerina e della sua compagnia. Rukmini Devi had grown up under the shade of the famous banyan tree in the sprawling Adyar campus of the Theosophical Society of which her father was an important functionary. Ultimately, Arundale’s work was integral to the revival of bharata natyam and to the elevation in status of both the tradition and its practitioners. With Narayan's death late February 21 in Chennai, the grand old lady of bharatnatyam is gone, and with her an important slice of history. Nilakanta Shastri, andando in pensione, trasferì la residenza della sua famiglia nei sobborghi meridionali di Madras (oggi Chennai), non lontano dalla sede della Società Teosofica. She was initially drawn to Western ballet, and Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova arranged for her to study with Cleo Nordi (one of Pavlova’s students). She was born on 29th February 1904 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil Brahmin family with seven siblings. Kuravanji: Dance-Drama —Sunil Kothari 161 20. Le attività di Kalakshetra non si limitarono alla danza, comprendendo altri aspetti della musica carnatica e anche aspetti educativi del tutto separati. Since her mother Seshammal was a music enthusiast, Rukmini Devi was exposed to dance, music, and culture within the precincts of her home. Nilakanta Sastri and his wife Seshammal, Arundale was reared in an upper-class Brahman family in Adyar, a suburb of Madras. Born to South Indian Sanskrit scholar and historian K.A. Al ritorno in patria, Rukmini si dedicò con grande determinazione all'apprendimento del bharatanatyam, in particolare sotto la guida del maestro Meenakshisundaram Pillai, già anziano. In her 20s, the theosophists proclaimed her the Mother Goddess -- the Devi -- embodying the great spiritual values of Hindustan, even as they identified J. Krishnamurti as the new messiah. Arundale went on to become the President of the Theosophical Society after Dr. Besant’s passing and Rukmini Devi herself was an active member of the Theosophical movement). In so doing, she aimed both to resurrect a moribund Indian art form and to reverse the negative social stereotypes associated with its female practitioners—the temple servants known as devadasis, whose obligations to the temple deity involved prostitution. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Nel 1952 Rukmini Devi fu nominata membro della Rajya Sabha, approssimativamente equivalente al senato italiano. He was an active member of the Theosophical Society. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Rukmini-Devi-Arundale, IndiaNetzone - Indian Personalities - Biography of Rukmini Devi Arundale, Cultural India - Dances of India - Biography of Rukmini Devi Arundale. She also received the Sangeet Natak Akademi (India’s national academy of music, arts, and dance) Award in 1957, and in 1993 the Indian parliament declared her foundation an institution of national importance. In 1936 she added Kalakshetra, an Indian arts academy that was especially dedicated to the cultivation of the bharata natyam tradition. She worked to purge bharata natyam of its shringara (erotic) element, investing it instead with an aura of bhakti (devotion). In particolare George Arundale invitò nel 1939 Maria Montessori a far partire nel campus di Kalakshetra una scuola elementare basata sul suo metodo, e successivamente vi aprì anche una scuola secondaria. After a lifetime spent working for the revival of traditional Indian art forms, Rukmini Devi Arundale passed away on February 24, 1986, at the ripe old age of 82. She also introduced aesthetically designed costumes, jewelry, and stage scenarios. Rukmini Devi Arundale - A revivalist, free-spirit, and an icon who continues to remind us that classic beauty is eternal. Meanwhile, in 1934, the year after Besant’s death, Arundale established the Besant Theosophical High School and the Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School to impart education based on both theosophist and traditional Hindu values. I t was 1935 and the hall at the headquarters of the Theosophical Society in Adyar, in what was then Madras, was filled with people who are there more out of curiosity than any interest in Bharatanatyam, as Rukmini Devi Arundale performed a dance recital.. Strettamente vegetariana, fu anche vicepresidente dell'Unione Vegetariana Internazionale, dal 1955 alla sua morte. Arundale was greatly influenced as a young woman not only by her father but also by Annie Besant, the Theosophical Society’s British cofounder and president (1907–33), as well as by British educator and theosophist George Arundale, whom she married in 1920. Over the years, encouraged by her husband, Dr. George Arundale, Rukmini Devi had acquired land in the village of Tiruvanmiyur, a short distance away from the Theosophical Society. Rukmini era figlia di Nilakanta Shastri, un bramino (casta elevata della società indiana) che era divenuto membro della Società Teosofica. Februar 1904 in Madurai, Indien; † 24. Dr. Padmasini remembers how Dr. Arundale and Rukmini Devi were on the look out for a capable headmaster. Rukmini Devi (Madurai, 29 febbraio 1904 – Chennai, 24 febbraio 1986) è stata una danzatrice indiana, fu un'importantissima figura nella storia della danza tradizionale indiana ed ebbe anche un ruolo politico e culturale. The father Neelakanta Sastri, though an engineer by profession, was a Sanskrit scholar and a historian as well. Rukmini Devi Arundale :: Born: February 29, 1904 Passed Away: February 24, 19864 Contributions Rukmini Devi ArundaleRukmini Devi Arundale was a reputed dancer and choreographer of … Rukmini Devi Arundale - Google doodle pays tribute to Rukmini Devi Arundale Unknown. Her father was closely associated with the Theosophical Society, a monistic (emphasizing unity in the diversity of all phenomena) spiritual organization headquartered in Madras though founded in New York City. Fascinated by Rukmini Devi's love for the mankind and humanity, Dr Arundale, in 1920, married her with the approval and support of … Strettamente legata alle funzioni religiose dei templi indù, era praticata solo dalle caste inferiori, essendo considerata un'attività poco nobile. During that time, general practice was to elect vice president of each member society, although he could also be elected by the IVU to represent the country. Rukmini Devi Arundale — Rukmini Devi… Mrs. Rukmini Devi Arundale was the Vice President of IVU for the 31 years from the World Congress in Paris, until her death in 1955. https://www.geni.com/people/Rukmini-Devi-Arundale/6000000007220408609 Fu un matrimonio che fece scalpore, per essere contratto da un'indiana di casta elevata e un uomo di razza e cultura occidentali. He was an active member of the Theosophical Society. Rukmini Devi Arundale was an Indian classical dancer who led the renaissance of the ‘Bharatnatyam’ dance form and founded the Kalakshetra Foundation in Madras (now Chennai). Arundale was also in-charge of the organization’s paper, “New India”. The Birth of Bharatanatyam and the Sanskritized Body —Uttara Asha Coarlawala 173 21. Con il marito, Rukmini cominciò a viaggiare per il mondo, mentre nel frattempo assumeva ruoli sempre più importanti nel ramo giovanile della Società Teosofica. rediff.com - Vita di Rukmini Devi in otto diapositive (in inglese), The Tribune - Sul ruolo di Anna Pavlova nella vita di Rukmini Devi (in inglese), India Today - Rukmini tra le 100 persone che hanno fatto l'India moderna (in inglese), Vita di Rukmini Devi e fondazione di Kalakshetra (in inglese), Sito ufficiale di Kalakshetra (in inglese), https://it.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rukmini_Devi&oldid=114374805, Voci biografiche con codici di controllo di autorità, licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione-Condividi allo stesso modo. Nel 1928, la famosa ballerina russa Anna Pavlova diede uno spettacolo a Bombay e in quest'occasione Rukmini e il marito ebbero occasione d'incontrarla. Arundale was also in-charge of the organization's paper, "New India". He was an active member of the Theosophical Society. Rukmini apportò una serie d'innovazioni al bharatanatyam, svincolandolo dal suo legame stretto con le funzioni religiose, purificandolo dagli elementi erotici e volgari, e nobilitandolo come attività degna di tutti. Quick Facts Also Listed In : Animal Rights Activists, Classical Dancers Famous as : Bharatnatyam Dancer... Quick Facts. February 1986. Date of death: 24. Fascinated by Rukmini Devi’s love for the mankind and humanity, Dr Arundale, in 1920, married her with the approval and support of her family. In 1951, a sapling of the Arundale was also in-charge of the organization’s paper, “New India”. Rukmini Devi and Sanskritization : A New Performance Perspective Also during her travels, Arundale became enamoured with classical dance. Rukmini Devi Arundale (February 29, 1904 – February 24, 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer. Rukmini Devi first met Dr George Arundale, in 1917. Rukmini Devi Arundale (29 February 1904 – 24 February 1986) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam, and an activist for animal rights and welfare.. She also is the first ever woman in Indian History to be nominated as the Rajya Sabha member. Rukmini Devi first met Dr George Arundale, in 1917. One day, as they were sitting in the verandah of their house, Sankara Menon then still a College Student, walked in. Nel dicembre 1935, a trentuno anni, diede il suo primo spettacolo in occasione del giubileo della Società Teosofica, davanti a 2000 persone. Questa pagina è stata modificata per l'ultima volta il 17 lug 2020 alle 06:59. Molto sensibile alla protezione degli animali, Rukmini fondò nel 1960 l'Animal Welfare Board of India, di cui rimase dirigente fino alla morte, e contribuì fortemente alla legge indiana denominata "Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act" (Decreto per la Prevenzione della Crudeltà sugli Animali, 1960). 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