Balasaraswati Biography 
Balasaraswati was an Indian dancer who excelled in the art of Bharatanatyam. Her dancing style fetched her many fans all over India and many parts of the world. She received Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian award from Government of India in the year 1977 for her national service.
She was born on 13th May 1918 in Chennai in Tamil Nadu. She belonged to a matrilineal family of musicians and dancers. This traditional family has produced many artists in music and dancing. Her ancestor Papammal was a patronized in the court of Thanjavur and her grandmother Vina Dhanammal was one of the influential musicians of the 20th century. Her mother Jayammal encouraged her to get good training in dancing skills.
She combined the dancing and music and revolutionized the art of Bharatanatyam. She started her training when she was four years old and her teacher was K. Kandappan Pillai. Her two younger brothers T. Ranganathan and T. Viswanathan were also talented musicians. Her daughter Lakshmi Knight also turned out to be a distinguished dancer and her grandson Aniruddha Knight continues the family tradition of dancing. He is serving as the director of Bala Music and Dance Association in United States and Balasaraswati School of Dance in India.
The debut dance of Balasaraswati was in the year 1935. She performed in Calcutta (kolkata) in the year 1934. Her global career got great attention and she received international welcome. She was noted as the Supreme performing artist in the world by the dance critic of The New York Times, Anna Kisselgoff.
India Today classified her as one of the 100 Indians who shaped the destiny of modern India. She received Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1955, Padma Vibhushan in 1977, Sangit Kalanidhi award from Madras Music Academy in 1973, etc. She died on 9th February 1984.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 02, 2012
