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The Kathak legend’s last rites were performed at VS Shamshan Gruh, Ellisbridge at 1 pm. She was recently included in the list of recipients for the Padma Vibhushan award in January 2025. Born on May 17, 1930, in Ahmedabad, she went on to become a celebrated Indian Kathak dancer and choreographer.
In 1967, she founded the Kadamb School of Dance and Music in Ahmedabad, an institution dedicated to Indian dance and music. She is credited with pioneering innovative experiments in the field of Kathak.
Lakhia initially trained under various gurus of the Jaipur Gharana and later under Shambhu Maharaj. She was especially known for her multi-dancer (ensemble) choreographies.
Some of her most famous productions include Dhabkar, Yugal, and Atah Kim (meaning “Where to now?”), which she presented in 1980 at the annual Kathak Mahotsav in Delhi.
She also collaborated with Gopi Krishna to choreograph the Hindi film Rekha-starrer Umrao Jaan (1981).
Her disciples include many notable Kathak dancers such as Aditi Mangaldas, Vaishali Trivedi, Sandhya Desai, Daksha Sheth, Maulik Shah, Ishira Parikh, Prashant Shah, Urja Thakore, and Parul Shah.