Birju Maharaj, a legendary Kathak dancer, has died at the age of 83.

The Kathak dancer was a member of Lucknow’s Kalka-Bindadin Gharana. On February 4, 1937, he was born Brij Mohan Nath Mishra into a well-known Kathak dance family. He was awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for his mastery of the dance style. Birju Maharaj also performed in Rampur Nawab’s durbar. Birju Maharaj received various prizes for his services to the performing arts, including the Padma Vibhushan, one of the country’s highest civilian honours, in 1986.. “He had sudden breathlessness at around 12:15-12:30 am last night; we brought him to the hospital within 10 minutes, but he passed away,” his granddaughter Ragini Maharaj told ANI.