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2026   Manipuri dancer KSHETRIMAYUM THOURANISABI DEVI (6 Nov 1934 - 12 May 2026), one of the most revered and distinguished artistes in the field of Manipuri Raas and Nata Sankirtana, passed away at her residence in Imphal due to age related ailments. Her contributions to preserving and enriching our rich cultural heritage have been invaluable. Her passing is an irreparable loss not only to the world of Manipuri Raas and Nata Sankirtana but also to the entire artistic and cultural community. Thouranisabi Devi was associated with Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy where she taught for several years as Guru Rasdhari, Guruhan and Pradhan Guru till her retirement in 2006. She is credited with two books, Diva Ras (2 volumes-1993) and Ras Makha Amsung Nungi Masahk (2006), both based on Manipuri dance. She was a recipient of the Royal Robe from Maharaja Okendrajit Singh and a gold medal from the govt of Manipur. Decorated with several awards like Manipur State Kala Akademi award in 1977 and Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1980, she was honoured by the govt of India in 2003 with Padma Shri.  South African artist, novelist and dance historian DONOVAN ROEBERT passed away peacefully in his sleep on May 8, 2026. He founded and was director of the South African Friends of Tibet from 2000 to 2012. He taught Buddhist theory and practice from 2007 to 2011. Passionate about Indian dance, he generously shared his invaluable knowledge on Indian dance, especially through his pictorial essays featuring rare vintage dance photos. He derived great joy from the world of classical Indian dance, and the research he did in this field was an endlessly inspiring pursuit. His insightful essays, his research perspectives and keen documentation have touched the hearts of many in the arts community.  RASHME HEGDE GOPI, the founder of Shankaraa Foundation in Bangalore, passed away on April 19, 2026. She was the heart and force behind Shankaraa, a space she built with conviction and care, shaped by her lifelong commitment to the arts. She was a Karnataka State Rajyotsava awardee and has also received Karnataka Kalashree Award from Sangeet Nritya Academy.  Latvian Bharatanatyam dancer VIJA VETRA passed away on April 12, 2026. She was 103. More info: Vija Vetra: A century of dance - Prakhar Bajpai  Guru VASANT KUMAR, Director of Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir passed away peacefully on 24th March 2026 in Mumbai. He was 78. He was the son of Guru Govindraj Pillai and Guru Karunambal. He was the grandson of illustrious Guru Kuppiah Pillai and nephew of Gurus T. K. Mahalingam Pillai and Kalyanasundaram Pillai, the present principal of the institution. Guru Vasant Kumar dedicated his life to upholding the values, discipline and artistic excellence of the Sri Rajarajeswari tradition. He was one of the strong pillars of the dance school. He will be remembered for his humility, dedication and unwavering commitment to the art of Bharatanatyam. He will be deeply missed by one and all. He is survived by two daughters, Sangeetha and Savita, and son Shivakumar.  Carnatic and Kuchipudi vocalist D.V. KANAKADURGA passed away in third week of March 2026 in Chennai, aged 84. She was best known for providing the soul-stirring voice for Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam's dance productions for Kuchipudi Art Academy. Since joining under the guidance of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam in 1969, and as a constant vocal presence from 1973, she became an inseparable part of the Kuchipudi Art Academy. Her music gave life to countless solo compositions and timeless productions like Srinivasa Kalyanam, Rukmini Kalyanam, Chandalika, Haravilasam, and Sakuntalam, touching audiences across the world. She was affectionately called the "Golden voice of classical Kuchipudi." Not just Kuchipudi, but she has lent vocal support to Bharatanatyam dancers as well like KJ Sarasa and the Dhananjayans among others. She was conferred with the title 'Kuchipudi Gayani' by the Music Academy in Chennai in 1980. She also received the K.J. Sarasa Memorial Award in 2022. More info: A dancer's musician - Veena Mani The voice behind Kuchipudi exponent Vempati Chinna Satyam's choreographies, DV Kanakadurga found her unique voice beside rhythmic footsteps.  Guru S. P. SRINIVASAN, a revered Bharatanatyam Guru whose life was a shining example of simplicity, discipline, and boundless knowledge, passed away on March 12, 2026 at Mumbai. He was 71. Through his dedication, he nurtured not only dancers but also thoughtful and humble individuals who carry his teachings in their hearts. He believed in the purity of the art and its aesthetics. His guidance instilled values of humility, perseverance, devotion, and respect for tradition. He was not just a Bharatanatyam Guru, but a guiding light whose wisdom shaped lives both on and off the stage. He has worked with well-known artistes like Lata Surendra, Deepak Mazumdar and Sucheta Chapekar and has accompanied artistes from abroad too. Some of his illustrious disciples include Mausam Mahendra, Revathi Srinivasaraghavan, Devika Venkat, Shamal Pawar, Samidha Shinde, Vidya Sriram, Revati K, Manjula Manoj, and many others. SHYAMALA SUNDARAM passed away on February 22, 2026. She was a violinist and accompanied her daughters Padmini Dorairaj and Maya Sundaram and many Bharatanatyam artistes especially in New Delhi circle. |
