1. Uday Shankar
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Known for: Modern Indian dance pioneer
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Why he’s legendary: Combined Indian classical dance with Western styles and made Indian dance global.
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Legacy: Regarded as the father of modern dance in India.
2. Birju Maharaj
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Dance Form: Kathak
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Achievements: Padma Vibhushan awardee
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Why he stands out: Took Kathak from royal courts to global platforms with expressive storytelling.
3. Yamini Krishnamurthy
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Dance Forms: Bharatanatyam & Kuchipudi
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Known for: Grace, discipline, and technical mastery
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Legacy: Inspired generations of classical dancers.
4. Mallika Sarabhai
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Dance Form: Bharatanatyam
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Unique Aspect: Fused art with activism
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Impact: Known for socially relevant performances and global dance collaborations.
5. Shovana Narayan
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Dance Form: Kathak
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Achievements: Padma Shri
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Known for: Bridging classical dance with contemporary issues and cross-cultural themes.
6. Prabhu Deva
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Dance Style: Street, Hip-hop, Freestyle
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Nicknamed: Indian Michael Jackson
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Why he’s iconic: Re-defined cinematic dance; choreographed across multiple film industries.
7. Michael Jackson of India – Hrithik Roshan
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Dance Style: Modern, Bollywood
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Famous for: Unmatched grace and footwork
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Highlights: “Ek Pal Ka Jeena”, “Bang Bang”, and more—each a benchmark in Bollywood dance.
8. Madhuri Dixit
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Dance Style: Kathak + Bollywood
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Why she’s admired: Flawless expressions (abhinaya) and grace
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Notable Performances: “Ek Do Teen,” “Dola Re Dola,” “Maar Daala”
9. Shiamak Davar
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Dance Style: Jazz, Indo-contemporary
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Contributions: Popularized Western dance in India
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Legacy: Trained thousands; opened India’s first structured dance academy.
10. Rukmini Devi Arundale
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Dance Form: Bharatanatyam
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Why she’s historic: Revived Bharatanatyam and gave it global legitimacy
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Legacy: Founded Kalakshetra, a premier institute for Indian arts.
⭐ Honorable Mentions
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Remo D’Souza – Choreographer & reality show judge
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Saroj Khan – Bollywood’s legendary choreographer
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Sudha Chandran – Icon of inspiration and classical dance
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Kamal Hassan – Multi-talented actor-dancer trained in classical forms
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Allu Arjun – South Indian actor celebrated for electrifying dance moves