Rukmini Devi Arundale: 7 Must-Know Facts About This Iconic Indian Dancer

Rukmini Devi's birth anniversary is celebrated on the Leap Day, February 29.

She was born on 1904 into a Brahmin family in Madurai where her interests grew in theosophy.

At 16, Rukmini fell in love with theosophist and Anni Besant's trusted lieutenant, George Arundale and married him in 1920.

Rukmini Devi was also the first woman to nominated as the member of Rajya Sabha.

The then Indian PM, Morarji Desai once offered Rukmini Devi Arundale to become the President which she declined for her work in Kalakshetra.

It was famous ballerina Anna Pavlov who encouraged Rukmini to pursue her career as a dancer.

Rukmini Devi and her husband established Kalakshetra, dance academy in Chennai and dedicated their life to it.

Rukmini became a revivalist of Bharatanatyam from its original style 'sadhir'

She transformed the aesthetics of Indian classical dance forms for the better.