Uma Sharma, Classical Dancer
Classical Dancer

Uma Sharma

Born 1 January 1942 · verify

Reviving Natwari Nritya, the classical dance form that evolved into Kathak.

Uma Sharma is a kathak dancer, choreographer and teacher. She also runs the Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan, a classical dance and music academy, situated in New Delhi, founded by her father in 1946. She is most known for reviving the old classical dance form of Natwari Nritya or the Raslila of Brindavan, which later evolved into the Kathak.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Uma Sharma received the Padma Shri in 1973 at age 31, making her one of the youngest dancers to earn this honor.

The Story

1
In 1942, Uma Sharma was born in Delhi into a family from Dholpur, Rajasthan, setting the stage for her future in Kathak rooted in North Indian culture.
2
🌟 By studying under Pandit Sunder Prasad, a Jaipur gharana guru known for complex rhythmic footwork, and later learning abhinaya from Lucknow gharana masters Shambhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj, she created a unique fusion of two Kathak styles.
3In 1946, her father founded Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan in New Delhi, which Uma Sharma would later lead, becoming a key institution for classical dance and music education.
4Uma Sharma revived Natwari Nritya, the ancient Raslila dance of Brindavan, reconnecting Kathak directly to devotional Krishna poetry and performance traditions from medieval to 19th century.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1946, Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan was founded by Uma Sharma's father in New Delhi, becoming a hub for classical dance and music that Uma would later lead.

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Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Uma Sharma captured in a portrait photograph during the Wiki Loves Folklore contest (2020).
Uma Sharma captured in a portrait photograph during the Wiki Loves Folklore contest (2020).
2020

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Delhi
Uma Sharma was born in Delhi into a family originally from Dholpur, Rajasthan.
1942
🌟
Other
Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan Founded
Her father established Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan in New Delhi, later run by Uma Sharma.
1946
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Award
Awarded Padma Shri
At age 31, became one of the youngest dancers to receive the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
1973
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
Honored with Padma Bhushan, recognizing her contributions to Indian classical dance.
2001
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Uma Sharma studied under two major Kathak gharanas: Jaipur, focusing on intricate footwork, and Lucknow, emphasizing expressive abhinaya, and combined their techniques.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Her dance drama "Stree" uniquely portrays the evolving identity of women across centuries using Kathak, a rare thematic exploration in classical dance.

03 / 04
💡SURPRISING

Despite criticism labeling her style as Bollywood-oriented, Uma Sharma maintained a reputation strong enough to earn the Padma Bhushan in 2001.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
INDIAN STORY DR.UMA SHARMA KATHAK DANCER
·YouTube
More from this archive
INDIAN STORY DR.UMA SHARMA KATHAK DANCER
01
INDIAN STORY DR.UMA SHARMA KATHAK DANCER
YouTube
IN CONVERSATION- DR. UMA SHARMA
02
IN CONVERSATION- DR. UMA SHARMA
YouTube
LIFE TIME ACHIVEMENT UMA SHARMA
03
LIFE TIME ACHIVEMENT UMA SHARMA
YouTube
Uma Sharma- from our archives, Shayari-Dance
04
Uma Sharma- from our archives, Shayari-Dance
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Uma Sharma's revival of Natwari Nritya reconnected Kathak to its devotional roots, influencing both performance and pedagogy across India. Through Bharatiya Sangeet Sadan, she trained new generations of dancers, ensuring her stylistic fusion of Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas shaped modern Kathak. Her choreography, especially in dance dramas like "Stree," introduced thematic depth focusing on women's experiences within classical dance narratives.

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