Author: Harriet Ronken Lynton
Publisher: Orient Longman
Year: 1995
Language: English
Pages: 170
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8128502685
Description
The career of Mrinalini Sarabhai, many-faceted woman, who was born to dance, and who used her talents in many productive ways, is the central focus of this book.
In the 1930s the reputation of Indian classical dance had sunk to such a level that for a woman of respectable family to perform in public was enough to create scandal. Today training in classical dance is considered a desirable social grace for girls from good families and many of them are trying to develop a career in dance and find the competition daunting. The career of Mrinalini Sarabhai has spanned this social change, exemplified this development of respectability, and helped to create the more favorable climate.
Since 1949 she has danced in forty countries, making India alive and beautiful for those people. She is also known in India, particularly in the North, for the Darpana Academy of the Performing Arts which she established. She, her daughter Mallika, and the Darpana troupe have pioneered the use of classical techniques to express currently relevant social themes and thus contributed to the development of the country.