Pt.Uma Dogra [Kathak Exponent]
Pandita Uma Dogra, a Kathak exponent, is one of the most powerful and compelling dancers of India today. Endowed with a fascinating personality and highly imaginative mind, she brings to Kathak not only a mastery of technique that is the fruit of a thorough and meticulous training, but a total involvement in dance, a profound confidence and a joyous spontaneity that infuses her performance with rare intensity and authority. Born of a distinguished family with a rich cultural heritage, Uma was initiated to the art of Kathak when she barely seven years old. She had her early training in the Lucknow school of Kathak under Smt. Reba Vidyarthi at the Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.
Later, she continued her studies under the able guidance of Pandit Birju Maharaj and gained a thorough grounding in the Lucknow gharana of Kathak. Her quest for enriching her art with the techniques of the Jaipur school led her to the leading light of that gharana, Pandit Durgalalji.
The vigorous training under the exacting eye of her celebrated guru moulded her into an artist of rare individuality and exquisite taste. Through the very nature of her training, Uma combines in her art the delicacy and daintiness of the Lucknow and the vigour and alacrity of the Jaipur gharanas. Having imbibed from her gurus the best of both traditions she has successfully enriched it with the stamp of her own personality - thus creating a style that is authentic and distinctly her own!
Major Performances
Major Festivals in India
- Khajuraho Dance Festival - M.P
- Guru Kelucharan Mahopatra Award samaroh - Orissa
- Kala Godha Festival - Mumbai
- Swami Haridas Sammelan Golden Jublee - Mumbai
- Vetva Dance & Music Festival - M.P
- Pt. Arunkumar Sen Smariti Samaroh - Raipur
- Sharadchandrika Festival - New Delhi
- Dussehra Festival - Mysore
- Dussehra Festival - Patna
- Sankat-Mochan Hannuman Jayanti - Banaras
- Ramayan Mela - Chitrakoot
- Puri Beach Festival - Orissa
- Konark Dance And Music Festival - Orissa
- Tansen Sangeet Sammelan - Agra
- NCPA - Mumbai
- Darbari Festival - Nehru Centre, Mumbai
- Nanasaheb Kelkar Nritya Mahotsav - Nagpur
- Kathak Prasang - Bhopal
- Chidambaram Natraja Festival - Chennai
- Pt. Durgalal Memorial Festival - New Delhi , Jaipur, Bhopal , Jamshedpur, Aurangabad, Calcutta
- Vaishali Mahotsav - Vaishali, Bihar
- Pt. Kumar Gandharva Samaroh - Devas Rajgir Mahotsav - Bihar
- Spic Macay Virasat - Mumbai
- Ekjute - 25th year celebration - Jashn Ki Raat- Mumbai
- Guru Purnima Utsav - Mumbai
- Pt. Gopikrishna Memorial Festival - Nasik
Titles / Awards
- State Level
- Sanskritik Karya Sanchalay, Maharashtra - Certificate of Merit, Vividh Kala Mahotsav, 1994.
- Department of Tourism, Karnataka - Samman Patra, 1998
- Department of Tourism, Bihar - Kesariya Samman, 2003
- Sanskritik Vibhag, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh - Pratikalpa Kala Samman, 2003
- Department of Tourism, Bihar - Vaishali Samman Patra, 2004
- Sanskritik Vibhag and Dept. of Tourism, Madhya Pradesh - Samman Patra, Khajuraho Festival, 2005
- From Institutions / Academies of Abroad
- Vandana Arts, New Delhi - Certificate of Merit, Budding Artist of the Year, 1977
- Shobhna Awards - Awarded Certificate of Merit, 1979
- Sur Singaar Academy - 'Sringar Mani' at Kal ke Kalakaar Sangeet Sammelan, 1980
- Sangeet Kala Kendra, Agra, Uttar Pradesh - Sangeet Kala Ratan, 1995
- Sri Sangeet Sevalay, Gaya, Bihar - Samman Patra, 1999
- Mahima Foundation, Pune, Maharashtra - Honoured by Smt. Rohini Bhate, 2002
- Ahinav, Indore, Madhya Pradesh - Awarded by Smt. Sumitra Mahajan - Sargam Kala Samman, 2003
- Kathak Mahayagnya, Pune, Maharashtra - Awarded by Pt. Birju Maharaj - Gaurav Puraskar, 2004
Pt. Uma Dogra Photo Gallery - click here
Contact Details
Uma Dogra's School of Kathak Dance
H-3/2 Jal Padma
Bangur Nagar,
Goregaon (W),
Mumbai - 400 090
Ph.: +91 (022) 2636 8707
Telefax: +91 (022) 2877 9554