India, Aug. 23 -- In Dance of Freedom, renowned dancer and choreographer Leela Samson explores one of India's oldest classical dance forms, Bharata Natyam. Tracing its origins to the earliest devadasis performing in the ancient temples of Tamil Nadu, she follows its flourishing passage through the imperial court of Thanjavur, its marginalisation and eventual resurgence under British rule, and its glorious arrival on the public stage in the 20th century, at the Music Academy in Madras. Paying homage to the most significant contributors to its artistic trajectory, from the Tanjore Quartet to Rukmini Devi Arundale, Samson describes how they guided the dance form to its current stature. How is it that this ancient art continues to flourish, she asks. The answer lies in its inclusivity. This concise telling of Bharata Natyam's history is a deeply personal celebration of the dance form by one of its foremost practitioners....