Smt. Vishalakshi Johri

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Smt. Vishalakshi Johri is a significant figure in Indian classical dance, primarily recognized as the founder-President of the Kalapadma Dance Academy. She is notably the sister of the renowned dancer and philanthropist Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, who founded the internationally acclaimed institution for classical arts, Kalakshetra. Kalapadma Dance Academy was formally inaugurated in February 1960 by Dr. Shankardayal Sharma, who later became the President of India. The institution was established with the objective of promoting classical Indian dances and providing training to children and youth. Smt. Johri's "untiring efforts" as founder-President were instrumental in the commendable progress of Kalapadma. The main artistic force behind Kalapadma is Natyacharya Shri Shankar Hombal, a disciple of Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, who received extensive training in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali at Kalakshetra, Chennai. Kalapadma Dance Academy, with branches in Bhopal, Varanasi, and Chicago, is dedicated to the art of Bharatanatyam. It is affiliated with the Madhya Pradesh Kalaparishad, Bhopal, and the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidhyalaya, Khairagarh, and prepares students for various Bharatanatyam examinations up to the M.A. level. The academy has also choreographed and staged numerous dance dramas, including adaptations of works by Rabindranath Tagore and Kalidasa. While specific details about Smt. Vishalakshi Johri's personal performance career or individual awards are not widely documented, her foundational and leadership role in establishing and nurturing Kalapadma Dance Academy, coupled with her familial connection to Rukmini Devi Arundale, underscores her important contribution to the propagation and education of Indian classical dance.