Nov. 25: Eminent Kathak dancer Sitara Devi, who taught actresses such as Madhubala, Mala Sinha and Rekha, died today after prolonged illness. She was 94.

Sitara, described as “Nritya Samragini” or empress of dance by Rabindranth Tagore, was born in Calcutta in 1920 to Kathak pioneer Sukhdev Maharaj and Matsya Kumari.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled her demise. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain tweeted: “My pranam’s and Khuda hafiz to Sitara Devi, the greatest kathak diva ever and thanks to her for giving us her son Ranjit Barot, she lives on.”

Ranjit, a percussionist, is currently in the US on a tour and is expected to arrive tomorrow. The funeral will take place after that.