Tara Rajkumar in Ramayana - Slide 4/ Photograph

Tara Rajkumar in Ramayana – Slide 4/ Photograph

Series name	Beginnings
Description	This image illustrates a crucial point in Tara Rajkumar’s performance of the ‘Ramayana’ story. The golden line which the dancer is stepping over is called the ‘lakhshman rekha’, or the line which Lakhshman, (Sita’s brother-in-law) drew around her house in the jungle to protect her from danger. In the story, an abductor in disguise causes Sita to cross the line. In this image, henna paste, or ‘mehndi’, decorates the dancers feet, and ‘gunghuru’, or small bells, are worn on the ankle. Rajkumar presented several solo performances during the early years of the Academy of Indian Dance.
Date of Creation / Publication	1981
Creator	Unknown
Associated Person/ Organisation	Rajkumar, Tara
Location	London
Collection and Reference Number	Akademi Collection (GB 2661 AK)
Catalogue Number	AK/BEG/5
Copyright	The Creator and/ or associated person or organisation where applicable
Access to originals	The originals belong to Akademi.
Series notes	Akademi: South Asian Dance was known as The Academy of Indian Dance for over 10 years since its establishment in 1979. This grouping, Beginnings, focuses on the first ten years of the organisation (1979-1989) and traces its pioneering work in increasing accessibility to Indian dance and creating a space for Indian dance in contemporary British culture.
Collection notes	The digitised material from the Akademi: South Asian Dance Collection consists of documents and images from the establishment of the company,when it was called the Academy of Indian Dance up to the present time. Also included are flyers,photographs and education material pertaining to various productions,workhshops and seminars.