“It is difficult to explain the reason for the enchantment, but when Balasaraswati dances the dancer dissappears, and her entire personality merges into the dance... All magic, not a single moment without some delight.”
T. Balasaraswati
Tanjore Balasaraswati, also know as Balasarswati (May 13, 1918 - February 9,1984), was a celebrated Indian dancer, and her rendering of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance style originated in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, made this style of dancing well known in different parts of India and many parts of the world.
She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1957 and the Padma Vibhushan in 1977, the third and second highest civilian honors given by the Government of India. In 1981 she was awarded theSangeetha Kalasikhamani award of The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai.
early LIFE
Balasaraswati was a 7th generation representative of atraditional matrilineal family of temple musicians and dancers, who have been described as the greatest single repository of the traditional performing arts of music and dance of the southern region of India. Her ancestor Papammal was a musician and dancer patronized in the mid-18th century by the court of Thanjavur. Her grandmother Vina Dhanammal (1867-1938) is considered by many to be the most influential musician of the early 20th century. Her mother, Jayammal (1890-1967) was a singer who encouraged the training of Balasaraswati and was her accompanist.