Maturity blooms - Letters - Letter to the Editor

It is sad and ironic that an "ageism" decree against dancers should come out of India (see "Rants and Raves," October 2003, page 70).

The lovely South Indian Bharata Natyam is acknowledged to be the queen of various Indian classic dance forms. The most illustrious exponent of Natyam's work in our time was the great Srimati Balasaraswati. I had the good fortune to see Balasaraswati perform. The last time l saw her she had aged considerably. She would walk out in a matter-of-fact, flat-footed fashion, and awe her audience with a flawless and spiritually luminous performance. By the end of a long solo concert she would seem to be 16, and getting younger by the moment.

After her concert career was over Balasaraswati taught in the United States. Many American dancers learned from her wisdom and artistry.

JUDITH JUDSON

WASHINGTON, D.C.

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