Chennai: Sarada Hoffman, a renowned Bharathanatyam dancer and longtime dance teacher at Kalakshetra Foundation, has died at age 96. She had been living in the United States with her son.

Born in Madras, Sarada trained under Kalakshetra founder Rukmini Devi Arundale and was the institution’s second graduate. She went on to serve as principal dancer and later head of the dance department.

Sarada received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996 for her contributions to Bharatanatyam. Although she retired as department head in 1989, she remained an emeritus member until 1996.