Gujarat’s Famous Kathak Dancer Kumudi Lakhia Passes Away

Ahmedabad: Gujarat’s renowned Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer Kumudini Lakhia passed away at the age of today. Her last rituals will be performed in city in afternoon. She was recently honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. She was born on 17 May 1930 in Ahmedabad. She was an Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer. She founded the Kadamba School of Dance and Music in Ahmedabad in 1967, which is an institution dedicated to Indian dance and music.

Kumudini Lakhia started her career in dance with Ram Gopal. She toured Western countries, during which she popularized Indian dance abroad, after which she started her career as a choreographer. Kumudini Lakhiya was born on 17 May 1930. She started taking Kathak training from Sohanlal of the Bikaner Gharana at the age of seven. After this, she received training from Ashiq Hussain of the Banaras Gharana and Sundar Prasad of the Jaipur. Her mother Leela was a classical singer. Her mother encouraged her to further her training under Radhelal Mishra. She completed her schooling in Lahore and college studies in Allahabad.

She is credited with pioneering innovative experiments in the field of Kathak. She choreographed the Hindi film Umrao Jaan (1981) with Gopi Krishna. She has many disciples including Kathak dancers Aditi Mangaldas, Vaishali Trivedi, Sandhya Desai, Daksha Seth, Maulik Shah, Ishira Parikh, Prashant Shah, Urja Thakor and Parul Shah.