Our Bureau
Ahmedabad
Eminent Kathak exponent and founder of the Kadamb Centre for Dance, Kumudini Lakhia, passed away at the age of 95 on Saturday in Ahmedabad.
A towering icon in Indian classical dance, Lakhia was living with her daughter, famed dancer Maitreyi Hattangadi.
She was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan on Republic Day this year. She was earlier awarded the Padma Shri in 1987 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010, along with several other prestigious honours throughout her illustrious career.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday condoled the demise of noted Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia. He hailed her as an outstanding cultural icon whose passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances was reflected in her “remarkable work over the years.”
In 1929, Lakhia was born. She started her career dancing with Ram Gopal and traveled the world, introducing audiences to Indian classical dance techniques. Later, she received instruction from Pandit Shambhu Maharaj and Jaipur Gharana maestros. She began as a solo artist and eventually became a trailblazing choreographer.
Lakhia founded the Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad in 1967, following more than 20 years of performing alone. She made the switch to full-time choreography in 1973, frequently breaking the conventional solo Kathak structure with group pieces.
Atah Kim (Where Now?), which she performed at the Kathak Mahotsav in Delhi in 1980 and Dhabkar (Pulse), Yugal (The Duet) are some of her most well-known choreographies.
She also worked with Gopi Krishna as a choreographer on Muzaffar Ali’s critically acclaimed 1981 film “Umrao Jaan.”
Lakhia was a mentor to numerous renowned Kathak dancers, including Aditi Mangaldas, Vaishali Trivedi, Sandhya Desai, Daksha Sheth, Maulik Shah, Ishira Parikh, Prashant Shah, Urja Thakore, and Parul Shah.
PM Modi, also called her a “true pioneer,” adding that she also “nurtured generations of dancers. Her contributions will continue to be cherished.”
