The world of Indian classical dance lost a luminous star on April 13 morning with the passing of legendary Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia, at the age of 95.

Just weeks after being honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the iconic dancer and choreographer breathed her last in Ahmedabad.

For centuries, Kathak was synonymous with solo expression. Kumudini Lakhia dared to question this norm, and in doing so, created an entirely new aesthetic.

As early as the 1960s and '70s, she began exploring the potential of ensemble storytelling, filling the stage with vibrant patterns, interwoven narratives, and intricate rhythmic dialogues.

“Solo Kathak had developed too much gimmickry,” she once said candidly at a Natyakala conference in 2001. “The way it was presented needed a lot of consideration… In my vision, I saw the entire stage filled with dancers, patterns of colours, music which had musicality and not just an accompanying element.”

After nearly seven decades of solo performances across the globe, Lakhia founded the Kadamb Centre for Dance and Music in 1967 in Ahmedabad.

Among her many contributions to mainstream culture, one remains unforgettable — her sensitive and elegant choreography for Muzaffar Ali’s Umrao Jaan (1981), starring Rekha. Her work brought Kathak to Indian cinema with a lyrical finesse that remains unmatched.

Condolences came in from across the nation, including President Droupadi Murmu, who praised her “Innovative contemporary interpretations,” and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called her “an outstanding cultural icon… a true pioneer who nurtured generations of dancers.”

Her students, many of whom are now celebrated dancers in their own right, remember her not just as a guru but as a guide who led them to find their own voices.

Aditi Mangaldas, one of her most accomplished disciples, said, “Thank you for being our guiding light and for giving ‘meaning’ to the life of so many of us across the globe… I know Kumiben would have said ‘Aditi! Don’t mourn! Celebrate my life—celebrate dance!”

Internationally, she was compared to Martha Graham, a nod to her stature as a modernist in the classical realm.

Kumudini Lakhia’s dance was more than just performance — it was philosophy, rebellion, elegance, and a lifelong devotion to art. She was a woman ahead of her time, a relentless dreamer, and a fearless creator who redefined the soul of Kathak without ever compromising its spirit.

Kumudini ji was a trailblazer who revolutionized the world of Kathak with her bold vision and innovative spirit.

She is survived by her daughter Maitreyi Hattangadi, an acclaimed dancer, and a son.

Shraddhanjali, Kumiben. Your dance lives on. Om Shanti.