Skip to content

Booksellers & Trade Customers: Sign up for online bulk buying at trade.atlanticbooks.com for wholesale discounts

Booksellers: Create Account on our B2B Portal for wholesale discounts

Dance of Freedom: A Short History of Bharata Natyam

by Leela Samson
Sold out
Current price ₹280.00
Original price ₹399.00
Original price ₹399.00
Original price ₹399.00
(-30%)
₹280.00
Current price ₹280.00

Ships in 1-2 Days

Free Shipping in India on orders above Rs. 500

Request Bulk Quantity Quote
+91
Book cover type: Hardcover
  • ISBN13: 9789365233674
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • Subject: N/A
  • Publisher: Aleph Book Company Private Limited
  • Publisher Imprint: Aleph Book Company Private Limited
  • Publication Date:
  • Pages: 106
  • Original Price: INR 399.0
  • Language: English
  • Edition: N/A
  • Item Weight: 273 grams
  • BISAC Subject(s): Dance / Folk

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.

Samson, Leela: - Leela Samson received her training in Bharata Natyam at the Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, and became its Director in 2005. With decades of experience, she enjoys the reputation of being a dancer and teacher of sensitivity. She has also served as Chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and the Central Board of Film Certification. Two documentary films have been made on her-Sanchari by Arun Khopkar and The Flowering Tree by Ein Lall-and she has acted in several films, including Mani Ratnam's O Kadhal Kanmani. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1990 for her contributions to Bharata Natyam.

Trusted for over 48 years

Family Owned Company

Secure Payment

All Major Credit Cards/Debit Cards/UPI & More Accepted

New & Authentic Products

India's Largest Distributor

Need Support?

Whatsapp Us