Milena Salvini

Noted Kathakali dancer Milena Salvini passed away on 25 January 2022.
Born in Italy, she was a great enthusiast of Indian classical art, especially Kathakali.
She arrived in Kerala in 1965 to learn Kathakali, had established Centre Mandapa, a school of Indian dance forms in Paris, which flourished as a learning centre.
She sponsored Kathakali troupes from Kerala and arranged stage performances in many European countries. This helped to increase the acceptance of Indian classical dance in the West.
In 2019, she was awarded India's fourth highest civilian award, the Padma Shri.