Pranam to My Param Gurus
Guru Rukmini Devi,
Dr. Anjani is a student of classical dance and music since 1951. She learnt Bharatanatayam under Guru Anjali Merh- one of the senior disciples of Smt. Rukminidevi Arundale. She also had intensive training in Hindustani Vocal Classical Music under Guru Balkrishnabua Kapileshwari- who was a disciple of the great Ustad Abdul Karim Khan- the founder of Kirana Gharana. Thereafter, she learnt Nattuvangam, studied the musical forms used in Bharatanatyam and Karnatic Tala System from Guru Nana Kasar.
She did her M.A. (Music) from S.N.D.T. University. She had a deep study of the musical forms – Drupads, Dhamars, Kirtans of Haveli Sangit, etc., and was thrilled to find out the hidden resources underlying the above musical forms.
Dr. Anjani was inspired by Smt. Anjaliben and prepared Bharatanatyam Margams by using Hindustani musical forms and gave a new format ‘Devangananritya’- and gave performances along these lines (1968). She introduced fractional rhythm cycles- Sudip-tala, Abhinav-tala, Sripati-tala for Bharatanatyam Margams for the first time.
She received Ph.D.(Bombay University) for her thesis- “Aspect of dance in the 10th Skandha of the Bhagavata Purana”, under the guidance of Prof. Suresh Upadhyaya. Anjani was indeed very fortunate to have a rare honour, to assist Late Smt. Rukminidevi in her last production- ‘Meera of Mewar’ (Jan 1984).
She is the founder of Aradhana Sangitalaya, Bombay (1972) and has been teaching Bharatanatyam ever since.
