Legendary Bharatanatyam Dancer Kumari Kamala Passes Away at 91

Renowned Bharatanatyam artist Kumari Kamala passed away at the age of 91 in California, marking an irreplaceable loss for the Indian classical dance world. Known as “Baby Kamala” in her childhood, she began dancing at the age of three and was one of the last links to the revival of Bharatanatyam from Sadir. Trained under Vazhuvoor Ramaiya Pillai, she popularized the Vazhuvoor style with clarity, rhythm, and dramatic expression. She appeared in over 100 Indian films and continued teaching Bharatanatyam in the U.S., earning honors including Padma Bhushan (1970) and the National Heritage Fellowship.