Uma Sharma

🪔 About

Uma Sharma, born in Delhi in 1942, is a distinguished Indian classical Kathak dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Her extensive training in Kathak began with Guru Hiralalji and Girvar Dayal of the Jaipur gharana, followed by Pandit Sunder Prasad, also of the Jaipur gharana, who emphasized rhythmic footwork. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of Shambhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj, renowned gurus of the Lucknow gharana, known for their mastery of abhinaya (expressive dance). Uma Sharma is particularly recognized for her innovative approach, seeking to achieve a creative fusion of the Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas. Sharma is credited with significantly contributing to the revival of the ancient classical dance form of Natwari Nritya, or the Raslila of Brindavan, which is considered a precursor to Kathak. Beyond traditional presentations, she has expanded the Kathak repertoire by choreographing new dance numbers and full-length dance-dramas on diverse themes. Her acclaimed dance creation, 'Stree' (Woman), is noted for its powerful thematic content, depicting the journey of women through centuries and their quest for an independent identity. She has also translated the works of celebrated poets like Kalidas, Vidyapati, Ghalib, Tagore, Iqbal, Faiz, and Bachchan into Kathak. Her career includes numerous performances across India and extensive international tours to countries such as the USSR, New Zealand, Australia, USA, Canada, the Middle East, Japan, and China, often representing Indian dance on behalf of the Department of Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Uma Sharma also leads the Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan, a classical dance and music academy in New Delhi, founded by her father in 1946. She is also the organizer of the Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsav, an event aimed at promoting Indian classical music and dance. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (1973), Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1985), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987), Padma Bhushan (2001), Srijan Manishi (2013), Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement (2022).