Balasaraswati
The flowering of Balasaraswati's genius has taken place in a
garden of great splendor. For generations, the family has been a repository of
the Carnatic tradition in its pristine glory. The family tree can be traced back
to over two hundred years. Every branch is dotted with music and dance.
Balasaraswati's great-great-great-great grandmother, Papammal,
was a musician and a dancer at the Tanjore Court. that was in the eighteenth
century. Papammal's daughter, Rukmini, was also a court musician at
Tanjore. Kamakshi, Rukmini's daughter (circa 1810-1890), was taught by
the great Ganapati Sastri and danced at the Tanjore Court till the age of
seventy-five
It was into such a treasure-house of the Carnatic tradition that
Balasaraswati was born on the 13th of May, 1918. Music and dancing were in her
blood. And music and dancing were all around her. And they were, of course,
music and dancing of the highest quality and practised and heard in abundant
measure. Her formal training started at the age of four under the late
Kandappan.
