Gauri Ammal

🪔 About

Mylapore Gowri Ammal, also known as Gauri Ammal or Gowri Amma, was a legendary Bharatanatyam dancer and guru, born in 1892 in Mylapore, British India (now Chennai, Tamil Nadu). She hailed from a family of hereditary temple dancers, with her mother, Doraikannu Ammal, also being a renowned dancer and her first teacher. Gowri Ammal received her training from her mother, who taught her the nuances of abhinaya, and from Nelluru Munuswamy Nattuvanar (also Nallur Munuswamy Nattuvanar or Nallur Muniswami Pillay). She began her career as a temple dancer at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Mylapore, becoming known as the last devadasi of that temple. Gowri Ammal played a pivotal role in the revival and recognition of Bharatanatyam as a classical art form. In 1932, she performed at the Madras Music Academy as part of efforts led by E. Krishna Iyer to support Bharatanatyam. Her abhinaya, bhava, and musical talent were widely acclaimed. Her last public performance was in 1935 at the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Indian National Congress. A significant turning point in her career and the history of Bharatanatyam came in 1936 when Rukmini Devi Arundale, who would later found Kalakshetra, approached Gowri Ammal to become her Bharatanatyam guru, specifically to learn the subtleties of abhinaya. After the Indian government banned the Devadasi system in 1947, Gowri Ammal lost her position and home provided by the temple, and subsequently sustained herself by teaching dance. She taught at Kalakshetra and mentored many eminent dancers who became stalwarts in their own right. Her profound influence on Bharatanatyam is evident through her distinguished students. Gowri Ammal passed away on January 22, 1971, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1959), Honored by Madras Music Academy (1956), Natya Kalanidhi (1958).