Kalakshetra

Kalakshetra is a cultural academy for preservation of traditional values in Indian art, especially in the field of dance and music, founded in January 1936 by Rukmini Devi Arundale. Under Arundale's guidance the institution achieved national and international recognition for its unique style and perfection. In 1962, Kalakshetra shifted to a new campus in Tiruvanmiyur, Chennai, India.

In 1993, through an Act of Indian Parliament, the Kalakshetra Foundation was acknowledged as an Institution of National importance. [ [http://www.chennaibest.com/discoverchennai/personalities/dance1.asp chennaibest.com] ]

The Founder

Kalakshetra, later known as the Kalakshetra Foundation was established by Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, along with her husband, Dr. George Arundale, a known theosophist, in Adyar, Chennai in 1936. She not only invited the best of students, but also noted teachers, musicians and artists to be a part of this institution. [ [http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/arundale.htm Early years of Kalakshetra tamilnation.org] ]

Alumni of Kalakshetra

Some of the noted students of Kalakshetra are Radha Burnier, Sarada Hoffman, Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, Sanjukta Panigrahi, C.V. Chandrasekhar, Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan, Adyar Lakshaman, Krishnaveni Lakshaman, Ambika Buch, Yamini Krishnamoorthy and Leela Samson. [ [http://www.hinduismtoday.com/archives/1993/11/1993-11-02.shtml Noted students of Kalakshetra] ] ,Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant [ [http://www.anandashankarjayant.com]

Further reading

* Fredericks, Leo: "Poet in Kalakshetra". Madras 1977
* Kalakshetra Foundation (Hrsg.): Kalakshetra Brochure
* Nachiappan, C.: "Rukmini Devi, Bharata Natya". Kalakshetra Publications, Chennai 2003
* Nachiappan, C.: "Rukmini Devi, Dance Drama". Kalakshetra Publications, Chennai 2003
* Ramani, Shakuntala: "Sari, the Kalakshetra tradition". Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai 2002
* Sarada, S.: "Kalakshetra-Rukmini Devi, reminiscences". Kala Mandir Trust, Madras 1985

References

External links

* [http://www.kalakshetra.net/ Kalakshetra official website]
* [http://www.theosophical.ca/TheosBeauty.htm#academy Rukmini Devi's inaugural address, 1936]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2003/12/26/stories/2003122601420600.htm The Vision of Rukmini Devi, The hindu, Dec 26, 2003]
* [http://india-outside-my-window.blogspot.com/2007/12/photo-essay-kalakshetra.html Photos of Kalakshetra]
* [http://www.webindia.com/artindia/kcldnce.htm Kalakshetra at webindia]
* [http://home.planet.nl/~pesch082/htmlpag/E/Kalakshetra.html Kalakshetra profile]
* [http://www.housecallsindia.com/article.asp?aid=418]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/01/27/stories/2003012700070300.htm Rukmini Devi Centenary Celebrations, 2003]