Louise Lightfoot is also known as the:

Explanation

Louise Lightfoot (1902-1979) was an Australian dancer, choreographer and teacher who played a pioneering role in introducing Kathakali, the dance-drama of Kerala, to audiences outside India. Because of this, she is remembered as the "Australian Mother of Kathakali".

Louise Lightfoot was born in Australia and trained as an architect before turning to dance. She was one of the founders of the First Australian Ballet in Sydney in the 1930s. In 1937, she travelled to India, where she became deeply interested in Indian classical dance, especially Kathakali. She met the Kathakali dancer Ananda Shivaram, a student of the Kerala Kalamandalam, and invited him to Australia. In 1947, she organised a tour of Australia for Ananda Shivaram, which was the first time that Kathakali was performed in Australia. She also wrote about Indian dance and photographed and filmed Kathakali performances, which helped to preserve and spread knowledge of the art. She spent many years in India, studying, promoting and writing about Indian dance. Her work helped to introduce Indian classical dance to Western audiences at a time when it was little known outside India.

Several other foreigners have made important contributions to Indian dance. Ileana Citaristi from Italy became the first dancer of foreign origin to receive the Padma Shri (2006), for Odissi and Chhau. Milena Salvini from Italy received the Padma Shri in 2019 for her work with Kathakali in France. Sharon Lowen from the United States is known for Odissi, Manipuri and Chhau. Ragini Devi from the United States was one of the earliest foreign performers of Indian dance.

Why not the other options?

• ✗First foreign Odissi dancer is not a title given to Louise Lightfoot.
• ✗Mother of Mohiniyattam is the title of Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma.
• ✗Queen of Kuchipudi is not a title linked with Louise Lightfoot.