This contemporary Indian dancer who merged Kathak and Kathakali with other dance forms has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1995 and Padma Shri in 2007. His/her name is:

Options

A. Birju Maharaj
B. Jailal Misra
C. Astad Deboo
D. Uday Shankar

Answer

C

Explanation

Astad Deboo is an Indian contemporary dancer and choreographer, who employs his training in Indian classical dance forms of Kathak as well as Kathakali to create a dance form that is unique to him, and has become a pioneer of modern dance in India. He has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 and Padma Shri in 2007, awarded by the Government of India.