Journalism of Courage
Contemporary Indian dancer Astad Deboo passed away in Mumbai on December 10. Born in 1947, Deboo was trained in Kathak and Kathakali and went on to marry the two classical forms to create a fusion dance form. With a career spanning over 50 years, Deboo -- a recipient of Padma Shri in 2007 -- also choreographed for directors like Mani Ratnam and Vishal Bhardwaj. (Photo: Express Archive/ Designed by Gargi Singh)
The dance pioneer started the Astad Deboo Dance Foundation for the marginalised and the differently-abled in 2002. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
In this 2014 picture, he can be seen rehearsing with his troupe for a show at NCPA. (Express Photo by Vasant Prabhu)
Deboo learnt Kathak with Guru Prahlad Das and later went on to learn Kathakali with Guru E K Pannicker.(Photo: Astad Deboo / Instagram)
According to PTI, he once described his dance form as “contemporary in vocabulary and traditional in restraint." (Express Photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
“He leaves behind a formidable legacy of unforgettable performances combined with an unswerving dedication to his art, matched only by his huge, loving heart that gained him thousands of friends and a vast, number of admirers,” it read. The announcement said, “The loss to the family, friends, fraternity of dancers, both classical and modern, Indian and international, is inestimable. May he rest in peace. We will miss him,” the family said on social media. (Photo: Astad Deboo / Instagram)
“He has created a dance-theatre style which successfully assimilates Indian and Western techniques,” reads the citation for the Sangeet Natak Akademi award he received in 1995 for his contribution to contemporary creative dance. (Express photo by Shubhankar Chakraborty)
He performed solo, and in groups in over 70 countries. (Photo: Express Archive)
