SSC
The Kalakshetra style, developed by Rukmini Devi Arundale, is associated with which classical dance?
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Answer: Option B — Bharatanatyam
Detailed Solution
The correct answer is Bharatanatyam. The Kalakshetra style (or bani) of Bharatanatyam was developed by Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986), one of the most important figures in the revival of Bharatanatyam in the 20th century, at the Kalakshetra Foundation, which she founded in Chennai in 1936.
Rukmini Devi was born into a Brahmin family in Madurai and was associated with the Theosophical Society. At a time when the dance, then known as Sadir, was linked with the devadasi system and had lost social respect, she decided to learn it, which surprised many people. She studied under Meenakshisundaram Pillai of the Pandanallur tradition and gave her first public performance in 1935. She then worked to bring the dance to the respectable public stage. In her style, she emphasised the spiritual and devotional aspects of the dance, removed elements that she considered too sensual, and introduced new costumes, jewellery, stage lighting and orchestras. She also created large dance-dramas based on the Ramayana, the Kumarasambhava, the Gita Govinda and other works. The Kalakshetra style is known for its clean lines, precise geometry, straight posture and controlled movements. Kalakshetra became a major centre of training in dance, music and the arts, and many great dancers trained there. Rukmini Devi was the first woman nominated to the Rajya Sabha (in 1952), and she received the Padma Bhushan in 1956.
About the other options:
- Kathak is associated with gharanas such as Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras and Raigarh.
- Manipuri is associated with gurus such as Guru Bipin Singh and institutions such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in Imphal.
- Odissi is associated with gurus such as Kelucharan Mohapatra, Pankaj Charan Das and Deba Prasad Das.
💡 Exam tip
Link Rukmini Devi Arundale with Bharatanatyam, Kalakshetra (Chennai, 1936) and the revival of the dance. Other styles (banis) of Bharatanatyam include Pandanallur, Vazhuvoor, Thanjavur and Mysore.💬 Discussions on this question
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Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.