Mrinalini Sarabhai Biography

Mrinalini Sarabhai was one of the best known faces of Indian classical dance. She was an expert dancer in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali, and was also a choreographer and a dance instructor. A dynamic personality she believed that new dance forms do evolve over time, but it is also important that they develop from a traditional classical foundation. A pioneer in the field of Indian classical dance, she was the first classical dancer who turned to choreography. Born to a social worker and political activist, she received her early education from Santiniketan where she realized her true calling. Determined to receive the best possible training in different dance forms, she learnt Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Mohiniattam from some of the most prominent dance gurus of her time. She went on to attain great fame as a dancer not only in India but also in several other countries around the world. Married to the physicist Vikram Sarabhai, she became the mother of two children, but family life did not diminish her passion for dance even a bit. Following a successful career as a dancer she turned to choreography and choreographed more than three hundred dance dramas. She was bestowed with many national and international awards for her contribution towards classical dance.