Narendra Sharma

🪔 About

Narendra Sharma (September 21, 1924 – January 14, 2008) was a pioneering Indian dancer and choreographer, widely recognized for his significant contributions to modern Indian dance. Born in Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh, he embarked on his dance journey at a young age, running away from home to join Uday Shankar India Cultural Centre at Almora. There, he received comprehensive training under the mentorship of Uday Shankar and Zohra Sehgal, becoming the youngest in Shankar's inaugural batch of students. His training emphasized improvisation, spontaneity, and natural movements, integrating classical Indian dance forms like Kathakali, Manipuri, and Bharatanatyam with Western ballet influences. Sharma's early career saw him in Bombay, where he collaborated with Sachin Shankar, choreographed for commercial films, and was influenced by the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). In 1954, he moved to Delhi, beginning a long association with Modern School as a full-time dance teacher, where he choreographed over 300 productions involving children and adolescents. He also served as the first choreographer for Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra's (SBKK) Ramlila in 1957, returning from 1961-66 to refine the large-scale spectacle. His international engagements included teaching dance at the University of Washington for two summers in the late 1960s. A pivotal moment in his career was the establishment of his independent dance group, Bhoomika, in Delhi in 1972. Under his direction, Bhoomika produced over 40 original works, earning critical acclaim and performing at major dance festivals across India. Sharma was also the chief choreographer for significant public events, including the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi and the closing ceremony of the Festival of India in Moscow in 1988. He continued to train students and choreograph after his retirement from Modern School in 1986, remaining active as a dancer into his late seventies. His legacy is carried forward by Bhoomika, now led by his son, Bharat Sharma, and he is remembered for fostering a "Free Dance movement" for children. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Contemporary Choreography (1976), Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1975), Soviet Land Nehru Award, UP Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.