Dance of Freedom: A Short History of Bharata Natyam (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9789365233674)

In Dance of Freedom, renowned dancer and choreographer Leela Samson explores one of India's oldest, most revered classical dance forms, Bharata Natyam. Tracing its origins to the earliest devadasis performing in the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, she follows its flourishing passage through the imperial court of Thanjavur, its marginalization and eventual resurgence under British rule, and its glorious arrival on the public stage in the twentieth century at the Music Academy in Madras, as Chennai was then known. Paying homage to the most significant contributors to its artistic trajectory, from the Tanjore Quartet and the Kalyani sisters to Rukmini Devi Arundale, she describes how each of them have guided the dance form, with its expressive display of emotions and stylized storytelling, along the eventful path to its present stature.

She asks: how is it that this ancient art has endured over millennia, and continues to flourish today? The answer, she says, lies in its inclusivity. Bharata Natyam is a reflection of the aesthetic and culture of the nation that is India, absorbing its many musical forms, literary texts, and languages. This concise telling of its history is an impassioned and deeply personal celebration of the dance form by one of its foremost practitioners.

Author: Leela Samson
ISBN-10: 9365233674
ISBN-13: 9789365233674
Publisher: Aleph Book Company Private Limited
Language: English
Published: 08/05/2025
Pages: 106
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 0.60lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.38d