Yamini Purna Tilaka Krishnamurthy alias Yamini Krishnamurthy, accomplished
Bharatanatyam
and
Kuchipudi
dancer who has dedicated her life to Indian
classical dance for decades, was born in 1940, in Madanapalli, Andhra Pradesh.
She hails from an eminent family which was more literarily than artistically
inclined. Yamini's father, M. Krishnamurthy, was a Sanskrit scholar and
grandfather was an expert in Urdu poetry.
Yamini enrolled
as a student of Bharat Natyam at the age of five in Kalakshetra School of Dance,
Chennai and her initial training was under Rukmini Devi Arundale. After
acquiring a structural base at Kalakshetra, she went on to higher studies under
renowned masters such as Kanchipuram Ellappa Pillai, Thanjavur Kittapa Pillai,
Dhandayudhapani Pillai and Mylapore Gouri Amma. She trained in Kuchipudi under
Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Shastri, Chinta Krishnamurthi and Pasumarthy
Venugopal Krishna Sharma. In addition to Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi, she learnt
Odissi from Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan Mohapatra. She was trained in
Carnatic vocal music by M.D. Ramanathan and learnt the Veena from Kalpakam
Swaminathan.
Yamini gave her
debut in 1957 in Chennai, where her charisma and stage presence were recognized,
when she was only seventeen. By 1960, she became one of the most admired
dancers in the country. Her performances brought about national and
international recognition to the classical styles of Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi.
Yamini played a significant role in popularizing Kuchipudi which was then
emerging as a solo dance form of Andhra Pradesh in southern India.
A multi-faceted
artist, Yamini recieved 'Padmashree' in 1968 and 'Sangeet Natak Academy Award'
in 1977. The title of 'Asthana Narthaki' was bestowed upon her by the Tirumala
Tirupathi Devasthanam, one of the most sacrosanct temples of India. Along with
stage performances, Yamini made a 13-part serial for Doordarshan on dance. In
1990, she started 'Yamini school of Dance' in Delhi. She wrote a book 'A Passion
For Dance', which was well-received by the critics.
Yamini is working
on a ballet, titled 'The Gandhian Order of Life' and another on Tagore and
Subramania Bharati and their depiction of the Goddess
Kali. Totally dedicated,
her life revolves around her dance school, her students and her
compositions.
Contact address
Yamini Krishnamurthy
'Yamini's School of Dance',
Nritya Kaustubha Cultural Society,
Haus Khas, Opp. Gulmohar Park,
Institutional Area, New Delhi 110
016,
Ph: (011) - 26856990 |
