Early proponents of Indian dance included both Indians and Americans devoted to sharing their art with the Western world. Ruth St. Denis performed ‘Hindu’-inspired dances that evoked deep spiritual connections for her audiences. Another U.S. performer, Ragini Devi, specialized in Kathakali, a relatively unknown style restricted to male performers. She traveled to India in 1930 and frequently collaborated with Guru Gopinath, a revered dancer known for re-popularizing traditional dance in India. In addition, Uday Shankar appropriated Western techniques to classical Indian dance – creating a modern art form often referred to as “Hindu Ballet.”