Dancer RAMU KANAGAL, the founder of Kanagal Nrithyalaya in Bangalore, passed away of Covid complications on April 28, 2021. He was 53.


BALA LAL, wife of late Kathak maestro Pt Durgalal, passed away on May 2, 2021. She was 68.


JACQUES D'AMBOISE, who shattered stereotypes about male dancers as he helped popularize ballet in America and became one of the most distinguished male stars at New York City Ballet, died on May 2, 2021 at his home in Manhattan. He was 86.


Akhila Bharatha Kuchipudi Natya Kalamandali Secretary, Kuchipudi Guru, promoter of Kuchipudi and a dedicated academic, PASUMARTHI KESAVA PRASAD passed away in Kuchipudi Village on the morning of May 7, 2021.
Born in 1952, he hailed from a traditional Kuchipudi dance family. His father Subramanya Sastry was known for female personification roles in Kuchipudi Yakshaganam and his grandfather was famous Kuchipudi Yakshaganam artiste Vedantam Ramakrishnaiah. Kesava Prasad received his training from Vedantam Parvateesam, P.V.G. Krishna Sarma and Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. He had a stint as a dance assistant in Sri Siddhendra Kalakshetram from 1978 to 1983. He enacted various roles in Kuchipudi Yakshaganam like that of Aniruddha, Lord Krishna, Madhavi, Indra, Chandamarkulu, Banasura, Balichakravarthi among others. He was an integral part of the entourage of famous Kuchipudi Yakshaganam artists like Vedantam Rattaiah Sarma, Dr. Chinta Ramanadham, Pasumarthy Venkateswara Sarma, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, and Dr. Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma. Kesava Prasad had dedicated his life to Kuchipudi dance and his demise is a great loss to Kuchipudi.

K Vijaya, one of the early students of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, succumbed on the morning of May 13, 2021 to Covid, after a 20 day hospitalisation. Hers was the 3rd arangetram of the institution in April 1984. She was also part of some of Shankarananda Kalakshetra's early productions.


Kuchipudi Guru DR. CHINTA ADINARAYANA SARMA (born on Aug 2, 1955) passed away on May 24, 2021. A prolific artist hailing from traditional Kuchipudi families of Chintavari Melam, he was a genius nattuvangam artiste with calculative precision, a unique choreographer with a prolific contribution, and researcher. He trained under his father Chinta Radhakrishnamurthy, uncle Chinta Krishnamurthy, P. V. G. Krishna Sarma and Vempati Chinna Sathyam. Chinta Adinarayana Sarma worked within the boundaries of the tradition and improvised stage techniques as early as 1970s and 1980s using magnificent settings. For his choreography of the dance drama 'Ushodayam,' the birth story of Jesus Christ, he received his Ph.D in Kuchipudi dance. He started Sri Radhakrishna Kuchipudi Natyalaya in 1983. Some of the awards he received are Natya Visharadha, Deva Parijatham, Natya Vigyan, and Natya Kalanidhi.
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Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and mentor, Guru B BHANUMATI passed away in Bangalore on May 24, 2021 of Covid related complications. She was trained under legendary gurus K.N Dandayuthapani Pillai, Dr.K.Venkatalakshamma and Kalanidi Narayanan. She was the founder director of Nritayakalamandiram in Bangalore. Bhanumati was a recipient of senior fellowship of ministry of human resources development for pursuing higher levels in group choreography where she broke new grounds in both classical content, aesthetic appeal and overall impact. She was a dance icon especially for her ensemble choreographies that were eye catching, graceful and elegant. She has been honored with the Rajyotsava Award by Govt of Karnataka (2001), Karnataka Kalashree, Natyakala Tapasvini, Shreshta Kala Pracharak, Chanakya Kautila award, Aryabhata Award etc.


VENKAT VEMPATI, the elder son of Guru Vempati Chinna Sathyam, passed away on May 25, 2021. He was 55. He was secretary of Kuchipudi Art Academy founded by his father in Chennai in 1963. He also offered Kuchipudi classes at their house in their ancestral village of Kuchipudi, in collaboration with Krishna University (KRU-Machilipatnam). He launched the 'Save Kuchipudi' campaign in 2020 to extend support to dance teachers. Venkat is survived by his dancer wife Srimayi and children Lakshmi Kameswari and Aneesh Venkat.