Usha Srinivasan

🪔 About

Usha Srinivasan, born on July 16, 1962, is an accomplished Indian classical dancer specializing in Kuchipudi. Hailing from Hyderabad, Telangana, she was born into a Tamil family; her father, P. Srinivasan, is a Veda pandit, and her mother is a Bharatanatyam dancer. Srinivasan underwent extensive training under several distinguished Kuchipudi masters, including Pasumarthi Sheshubabu, Bhagavatula Sethuram, Uma Ramarao, Chinta Aadinarayana Sharma, and Vedantam Radhe Sharma. Her artistic journey was further inspired by the legendary Kuchipudi dancers Shobha Naidu and Raja and Radha Reddy. Academically, Usha Srinivasan pursued her passion by earning an MA in Kuchipudi dance from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University in Hyderabad. In 2005, she was awarded a doctorate for her research titled "Kangundi Kuppam Veedhi Natakam – Kuchipudi Bhagavatham-Tunanathmaka Pariseelana." She established herself as an independent performer and choreographer early in her career. Srinivasan founded and directed the Sree Raja Rajeswari Arts Academy in Tirupathi, where she imparted her knowledge and expertise. Additionally, she serves as a Kuchipudi lecturer at Tirumal Tirupathi Devasthanam, contributing to the institutional promotion of the dance form. Her performing career has seen her grace stages internationally, including a notable performance in the USA in 2006, organized by the Raaja Raajeswari Arts Academy of Hyderabad. Her contributions to Kuchipudi have been recognized with several accolades, including the Sangeeta Nataka Akademi Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar. Awards & Honours: Natyamayuri Award, State and national level award, National scholarship for young artists, Sangeeta Nataka Akademi Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar, Awarded Best Dancer (1987), Awarded Best Dancer (1991), Award for Best Dancer (1999), Best performer (2006).