Rukmini Devi Arundale (1904-1986), the founder of Kalakshetra is a name known to many.  Her charismatic personality and contribution to the renaissance of Indian Classical dance attained her niche in the arena of Indian culture. It was 1935 and was unheard of for a Brahmin girl to perform the dance that finds its roots in the Devadasi culture. and early 20th centuries aimed to abolish the tradition of Indian dancing girls. With diminishing patronage, sadly devadasis were forced to move to prostitution to make a living. Sadir was put under the microscope for its eroticism, but with the help of Rukmini Devi, it was given a makeover from a sensuous art form to a more spiritual and devotional form. It was in January 1936 that Rukmini Devi Arundale setup the Kalakshetra Foundation, an arts and cultural academy dedicated to the preservation of traditional values in Indian art and crafts, especially in the field of Bharatnatyam. Rukmini Devi Arundale imparted the knowledge of Bharatnatyam to many through her foundation and her direct disciple was Guru Anjali Meher.

Guru Anjaliben Mehr belonged to one of the first batches that graduated from Kalakshetra under the tutelage of Guru Rukminidevi Arundale. Anjaliben post marriage moved to Baroda where she was appointed as the Head of the Department of Performing Arts at the MS University Baroda. Under her tutelage many prominent dancers were developed. Anjaliben has choreographed many productions for Kalakshetra notable one being Mira of Mewaar. She has also the distinction of creating a Bharatanatyam repertoire in the Gujarati language. Her Gujarati Varnam Kya Gayo Krishna Murari is till date a pioneering work of Varnam in other regional languages. Anjaliben through her years of teaching developed many renowned artists and her direct disciples were Guru Anjani Arunkumar and Guru Prerna Desai. Anjaliben breathed her last onstage after the presentation of the Navagrahas.

Dr. Anjani Arunkumar learnt Bharatanatayam under Guru Anjali Meher. 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 Carnatic 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.
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. Dr. Anjani was indeed very fortunate to have a rare honour, to assist Late Smt. Rukmini Devi 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.

Guru Prerna Desai started her dance career under Guru Anjaliben Meher and graduated with a degree in Bharatanatyam from MS University Baroda. Soon thereafter she moved to Pune and set up Aradhana Gurukul at Pune in the year 1969. A recipient of the prestigious Shringarmani puraskar from the Sur Singar Samsad, Prerana Tai’s strict adherence to the Kalakshetra style and her choreographic brilliance saw Aradhana become the epicenter of Bharatanatyam in Pune. Guru Prerana Tai choreographed many dance repertoires and her creation of  Shri Jayadeva’s Dashavatara with 10 exquisitely carved jathis remains her masterpiece to this day. Her other notable creations include RamaKrishna Sankeertanam and Daasi Pushpanjali. The pioneering dancer, Prerana Tai brought to life all of Guru Anjaniben’s Devangananritya Nrityabandhas by performing them with her unique stamp of precision. Prerana Tai has also nurtured her family of students with her loving nature. Her command over Nattuvangam is unparalleled.