A prominent alumnus of M S University’s Faculty of Performing Arts, Anjani Ambegaokar,  who was instrumental in spreading the art of Kathak in Los Angeles, passed away on Saturday, November 12.

Ambegaokar, one of the senior disciples of late Pandit Sundaral Gangani, had initiated her training in Kathak dance at the age of seven. She did her masters in dance from the Faculty of Performing Arts.

After migrating to the US in 1967, she founded the Sundar Kala Kendra Dance School in Los Angeles. The school holds five branches between LA and Orange County.

As a recipient of the National Endowment Heritage Award, she was invited to give many guest lectures. Her choreography paved way for many opportunities through grants and international performances. In 1983, her performance in Vadodara was a great success where Ustad Zakir Hussain accompanied her on tabla. Her work is said to include a blend of Kathak with many other dance forms.