Louise Lightfoot first arrived in India in 1937 on her way to Europe from Australia. While in India, she visited Kerala and discovered a love for Kathakali. She was one of the first Westerners to learn the style at Kerala Kala Mandalam, and was paired with a dancer, Shivaram. In 1947, Lightfoot returned to Australia with Shivaram and a troupe of dancers who performed across the world. In addition to giving lectures and demonstrations with Shivaram, Lightfoot is recognized as contributing to the popularizing of Indian dance, specifically during a period of renaissance of the classical styles in India.

Ramli Ibrahim is a Malaysian dancer who has been recognized in India and around the world for his mastery in Odissi and Bharatanatyam. After a notable career as a member of the Sydney Dance Company, Ramli returned to Malaysia and established Sutra Dance Theatre, which has become a leading dance school in Malaysia, performing for national and international audiences. Concurrently, Ramli has contributed to the establishment of contemporary modern dance in Malaysia, through a strong body of choreography which “define ‘modernity’ from Asian perspectives.”