This book presents an intimate portrait of one of the great performing artists of the twentieth century. This is the first complete biography of T. Balasaraswati (1918-1984), an internationally acclaimed dancer and musician from southern India. Her life story offers an extraordinary view of the matrilineal devadasi community and traditional artistic practice from which modern South Indian dance styles have emerged. This deeply engaging biography draws together Balasaraswati's personal account of her life and her reflections on the process of making dance and music with the commentary of family members and dozens of contemporaries from throughout her fifty-year career. The book is generously illustrated with rare historical photos and a duotone gallery of distinguished photographers' images of Balasaraswati's dancing.

About the Author

DOUGLAS M. KNIGHT JR. is a musician and independent scholar. He has appeared in performance with Balasaraswati, her brothers Ranganathan and Viswanathan, and her daughter, Lakshmi Knight, and grandson, Anirudda Knight. Douglas Knight has been a Fulbright Scholar and Guggenheim Fellow.

Reviews

"A fascinating book written with knowledge, understanding, and talent celebrating the twentieth century's greatest bharata natyam performer, the incomparable Balasaraswati." CHARLES L. REINHART, director, American Dance Festival"