Sarada Hoffman
Sarada Hoffman | |
|---|---|
| Born | A. Sarada[1] 1929 (age 95–96) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation(s) | Dancer, Dance Teacher |
| Known for | Bharatanatyam |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996) |
Sarada Hoffman is a Bharathanatyam dancer and dance teacher from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.[2] In 1996, she received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contributions to Bharatanatyam.
Biography
[edit]A. Sarada (later Sarada Hoffman) was born in Madras in 1929.[3] She grew up in the Theosophical Society Adyar, where children lived and studied under the leadership of Dr. George Arundale.[4] When her parents moved to Madurai, Rukmini Devi Arundale took Sarada under her care and made her stay in the Kalakshetra Hostel.[4] She stayed in the same hostel as a student and later as a teacher until she married Peter Hoffman in 1960.[4]
There were two Saradas at Kalakshetra institute of Rugmini Devi. Due to the age difference, the older Sarada, who joined first, came to be known as "Periya Sarada" and the younger Sarada Hoffmann as "Chinna Sarada".[4]
Sarada studied Bharatanatyam at Kalakshetra under Rukmini Devi Arundel, Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and Mylapore Gowri Ammal.[3] She also received training in Kathakali from Kathakali gurus like Ambu and Chandu Panicker.[3] After completing her studies in 1947, she was appointed as a dance teacher at Kalakshetra and one of its principal dancers.[3]
Personal life
[edit]Sarada married Peter Hoffman in 1960. They have two children, Krishna and Geeta.[4] They lives at Valmiki Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai.[5]
Career
[edit]Initially, Sarada Hoffman performed as part of the Kalakshetra troupe but later focused on teaching and composing Bharatanatyam.[3] Many noted dancers and teachers, including Yamini Krishnamurthy, Adyar K. Lakshman, C. V. Chandrasekhar, Shantha and Dhananjayan, have trained under her.[3] After retiring from Kalakshetra as the head of the dance department in 1989, she served as an emeritus member of Kalakshetra until 1996.[3]
Awards and honors
[edit]Sharada Hoffman received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 for her contributions to Bharatanatyam.[3] In 2001, she received the first Rukmini Devi Medal for Excellence in the Arts, established by the Centre for Contemporary Culture, New Delhi.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "History – Kalakshetra Foundation". www.kalakshetra.in.
- ^ Swaminathan, Chitra (2024-06-19). "Legendary Bharatanatyam dancer C.V. Chandrasekhar passes away". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-06-28.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "SARADA HOFFMAN" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi.
- ^ a b c d e A perfectionist (PDF). Sruti Magazine. February 2009. p. 9.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Sarada Hoffman".
- ^ "'She moulded us into good human beings'". www.rediff.com.