Menaka’s life was devoted to dance. Born in Bombay, she started learning at a young age, training in the Indian classical dance styles of Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kuchipudi. She was an established dancer and dance teacher when she moved to Canada in 1972. Soon after arriving in Toronto, she started a school, Nrtyakala Academy of Dance, which would train generations of young Indo-Canadians. Its graduates formed the core of her professional Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. Performing all over Canada, Menaka helped introduce classical Indian dance to the Canadian arts scene. She also choreographed a large number of original works. Many of these productions, often in collaboration with some of Canada’s finest dancers, provided opportunities for the cross-pollination of Indian and Western dance.

Menaka’s accomplishments were recognized by many honours over the years, including an honorary DLitt from York University, the Canada Council’s Walter Carsen Prize, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement in dance, and induction in the DCD Dance Hall of Fame.

Menaka will be missed by her family. She was predeceased by her parents Bhanuchandra and Manorama (Mehta) Thakkar, by her sister Sudha (Abdullah) Khandwani, and by her brothers Rasesh Thakkar and Rashmi (Sudha) Thakkar. She is survived by her sister Pragna (Philip) Enros, brother Nidhi (Villoo) Thakkar, and nephews and nieces: Madhava (Kate) Enros, Sonali (Zach) Thakkar, Shivani (Rushabh) Thakkar and Zubin (Tushara) Thakkar. She was also loved by her students and will be fondly remembered by them and by her dance colleagues.

Menaka died in Toronto after complications from Alzheimer’s. Her ashes will be scattered at a later date.