Bharatanatyam Institutionalization and Arts Academies

Classical Indian dance forms like Bharatanatyam require dedicated institutions for their preservation, training, refinement, and dissemination. Establishing formal academies plays a crucial role in the systematic study and promotion of such art forms, ensuring their continuity and evolution.

Rukmini Devi Arundale's Contribution

Rukmini Devi Arundale was a towering figure in the 20th century, instrumental in reviving, reshaping, and popularizing Bharatanatyam. She recognized the need for a structured approach to teaching and performing the dance form, which had faced decline and stigmatization.

Her most significant contribution towards institutionalizing Bharatanatyam was the founding of Kalakshetra Foundation in Chennai (formerly Madras) in 1936. Although the specific name mentioned in the question is 'International Academy for Arts', Kalakshetra is widely recognized as the premier institution established by Rukmini Devi Arundale for the study and practice of Bharatanatyam and other South Indian classical arts. Kalakshetra became a benchmark for excellence, offering rigorous training, promoting aesthetic values, and providing a platform for aspiring artists. Her efforts transformed Bharatanatyam from a temple and court-based art to a respected stage art form practiced globally.

Analysis of Options

• Uday Shankar: While a pioneer in modernizing Indian dance and establishing cultural centres, his focus was broader and distinct from Rukmini Devi Arundale's specific efforts in institutionalizing Bharatanatyam through an academy like Kalakshetra.
• Rukmini Devi Arundale: Directly associated with founding Kalakshetra, a major institution dedicated to Bharatanatyam and other classical arts, fulfilling the role described in the question.
• Balasaraswathy: A legendary performer of Bharatanatyam, renowned for her adherence to tradition, but not primarily known for establishing an academic institution for the dance form.
• Mylapore Gowriammal: A respected traditional Bharatanatyam exponent, but her primary role was as a performer and teacher within traditional lineages, not establishing a large-scale academy.

Therefore, Rukmini Devi Arundale is the correct figure associated with the institutionalization of Bharatanatyam through establishing a significant arts academy.