Astad Deboo, who lost his battle for life on Thursday, would continue to inspire generations to come, say dancers and choreographers‘He showed us the way’

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Year 2020 has been particularly harsh. On Thursday, it claimed another life – Astad Deboo, the pioneer of modern dance in the country, who lost his battle for life after a brief illness. Deboo, who brought India on the global stage of contemporary dances, recently choreographed Boundaries, an ode to migrant workers.

“He left us in the early hours of December 10, at his home in Mumbai, after a brief illness, bravely borne. 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. 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,” Deboo’s family shared the statement.

Bharatnatyam exponent and choreographer Navtej Johar remembers Deboo for his path-breaking work. “He was first to imagine another way of moving, other than what is considered classical, not combining or fusing but doing something completely different and new. In his field he was a lone traveller for a long time, he was singularly carving this path. In doing so, he gave Indian modern dance a name and fame. He showed us the way, so to speak.” Choreographer Shakti Mohan calls Deboo, a recipient of Padma Shri in 2007, a great inspiration for new-generation dancers. “He is and would remain the ultimate when it comes to contemporary dance form.”

Kathak exponent Divya Goswami says Deboo is a legend, an inspiration and a meteor. “As he whirled on stage with élan, he narrated the tales of humanity, art and culture in a garland of creative energy. His body of work spanned 51 beautiful years of constant thinking, struggles and breaking the barriers. Today, not only does he leave behind an irreplaceable legacy, but his work carves way for generations to come and experience.”