By V.R.Devika
Rukmini Devi Arundale was born on 29th February 1904. The year 2024 being a leap year, this date becomes special. Adyar was the place where a renaissance of art took place. Here is an incident to highlight her dance journey.
Ananda Natana Prakasam Chithsabesham, a Keerthanam on Shiva Nataraja, was included in Rukmini Devi’s repertoire for her very first performance at the Theosophical Society. The performance received such a warm response that an idea to start an international academy of arts (later named Kalakshetra) took root that night. Rukmini Devi wanted to dedicate her art to the God of dance Nataraja and requested V.S.Srinivasa Sastri, the then Vice Chancellor of Annamalai University, to help organise a visit to the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram.
Rukmini’s group of 10 went to the temple quietly. When they reached the temple, Srinivasa Shastry came out running telling them not to go in as there was a huge crowd inside and that they may get mobbed. Rukmini Devi decided to go anyway and when they went into the temple, there was a frightful crush. Rukmini Devi somehow got to the front of the sanctum and shouted to her musicians above the crowd to start singing and playing wherever they were standing. She just danced the Alaripu as her offering and even as she danced, moved backwards and managed to get out of the temple. She said later that it was a great spiritual experience for her.
Rukmini Devi looked at her art as a dedication to the God of Dance. As a reminder of this dedication, a Nataraja icon became an essential element on the left side of the stage opposite the musicians who sat to the right of the dancer. This aesthetic and personal choice of stage design became a trend, still imitated by most dancers.
V.R.Devika is a resident of Sastri Nagar. She is a Gandhian and the author of ‘Rukmini Devi Arundale: Arts Revivalist and Institution Builder’, published by Niyogi Books as part of the Pioneers of Modern India series. The book is available on Amazon for Rs.221.
