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HomeColumnUma Rama Rao’s demise lives a void in Kuchipudi Dance

Uma Rama Rao’s demise lives a void in Kuchipudi Dance

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Our rich Indian culture has many varied classical dance forms and there are some dancers who are called the care takers or the Dharowars of the dance. If KelucharanMahopatra was said to be the Maha Guru of Odissi and ShambuMaharaj and LachhuMaharaj the Maha Gurusof Kathak, then Uma Rama Rao was surely one Guru’s Guru for Kuchipudi.An artiste, guru and advocate of art forms, Uma Rama Rao’s recent demise has indeed left void in the world of Kuchipudi dance.

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I had the fortune of meeting this joyful lady a few years back in Hyderabad where I had gone to conduct a workshop. Her personality was glowing and she was as radiantas her name implied.Uma Rama Rao or ‘Aunty’ as many addressed her as has ended her sojourn on this earth but her timeless spirit is as effulgent as ever.

Umaji was an artiste to the core.Yes, her core being spoke nothing but sollukattu and swaram; her mind was constantly caught up in research and choreography, her feet were forever ready to dance though she long ceased to perform on stage and chose to teach and give wings to her creativity through her numerous disciples.

It was as god of dance, Natraj, had her career neatly chalked out and carried forward- first as a performing artiste, post-marriage, an academician dancer who chose to teach in institutions, then the architect, along with then chief minister N T Rama Rao of the department of dance, which she later headed, of the PottiSriramulu Telugu University, then a research scholar who secured her doctorate and finally a writer till the last, with any number of books on dance to her credit.

She was not just a superb dancer, scholar and a teacher but a very hospitable person as well. I can never forget the steaming cup of coffee which followed with a table full of south Indian delicacies which she served me when I met this legendary person.

I remember her place was like an open house, one could walk in at any hour making sure she was there and then just sit comfortably with her either to get valuable inputs, get enlightened over theory of dance and its finer aspects or get trained in performing, get guidance in research and above her warmth as a mother.

I recollect, shehaving told me that if she had not married her husband Rama Rao her dance would have been nailed down and closed forever as she came from a very conservative family,who did not believe in encouraging women to take up dance as a career.

She was super busy in her hay days of her dance career but, come what may, she just knew how to balance both the lives perfectly. Umaji or perfect lady like I call her never let health or any adverse situations stem in her creativity. She thrust them all aside only to continue doing what she loved most, composing dance ballets and showcasing them to dance lovers and dance enthusiasts world over.

Please allow me to give you names of a few awards she was bestowed with: ‘Kala Neerajanam’and ‘Best Teacher Award’ from Government of Andhra Pradesh, ‘Sri Kala Poorna’ from Saint Annamacharya project of North America (SAPNA), ‘PratibhaPuraskar’ from PottiSreeramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad.‘SangeetNatakAkademi’ from the hands of Bharat RatnaSri APJ Abdul Kalam, the President of India in 2004.

Umaji was born on July 4th, 1938 at Visakhapatnam, and has served the art of Indian classical dance, in particular Kuchipudi dance for over 60 years. She hailed from a background of distinguished scholars with a very keen interest in literature, music and dance.She had a Masters degree in Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad and at a very tender age of five years she started her dance training under the guidance of great gurus like; P V Narashimha Rao, Nataraja Ramakrishna, Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastri, Guru Pakkiri Swami Pillai and Guru C R Acharya. She obtained proficiency in theoretical and technical aspects of Kuchipudi, Bharatnatyam and ritual dance traditions and later with the blessings of her guru, Nataraja Ramakrishna, she took up teaching dance to pass on the tradition to younger generation.

She was the only lady I can say was instrumental in introducing the BA and MA degrees in Kuchipudi dance, thus giving a new academic status and dimension to the ancient cultural heritage of Andhra Pradesh. She was a purist in her form and her thoughts, yet she was modern in her approach of teaching. She did believe in Guru Shishyaparampara but also knew the power of the internet and she fully encouraged and supported the ‘Distance Education Program’ in Kuchipudi dance and on-line courses in universities, cultural organizations and dance academies. This was a new concept then and one of its kinds in India, being introduced and implemented by “PottiSreeRamulu Telugu University” at Hyderabad to establish Telugu language and culture through Kuchipudi dance and to guide dance students for research and other activities.

Umajichoreographed a number of solo items, dance features, dance dramas and traditional Yakshaganas, based on the lyrics of great composers of yester years and contemporary writers of today. ‘Sri Thyagaraja’sNaukaCharitra’, ‘Prahlada BhaktiVijayam’, ‘King Shahaji’sSankara and Vishnu PallakiSevaPrabandhams’, ‘VigneswaraKalyanam’, ‘Narayana Theertha’sSadhvi Rukmini’, ‘Matrubhutayya’sParijatapaharanam’, ‘· KakuturiPadmavati’sMandakini and Siva Katyayani’ and ‘MedhaVikas’ (which was on computers) all showed her innovative spirit.

During my meeting she told me, ‘Sandip my motto has always been to bring out old traditional literary gems to the limelight and give them a new outlook, without deviating from the original traditional structure with their aesthetic, philosophical and spiritual values.’  She took Kuchipudi dance to countries like USA, Canada, UK, France, Germany, Austria, Gulf, Middle East, Sri Lanka and many more but kept the roots of Kuchipudi alive even in the modern days and foreign shores.

I remember this multifaceted lady telling me how she got a few Telugu film offers which she gently declined, because Hollywood, Bollywood nor Tollywood ever interested her. For Umaji the only interest was her dance, research and writing. Her book “KuchipudiBharatam” in English is on the origin, history and development of Kuchipudi dance. And her other piece of writing is a textbook, “B A Kuchipudi dance” in Telugu language, co-authored with Professor P S R Appa Rao, a great scholar, was published by Telugu University, on academic achievements.

Uma Rama Rao’s thirst for acquiring more knowledge is admirable and her voyage in this direction is untiring making her a torchbearer to dedicated artists. For Umaji research was a great passion and teaching dance a life time commitment. Before I said good bye to her she told me ‘Dance is eternal and a moving spirit, preaching this art form in all shades is a true worship of God and in turn a great service to humanity.’

Today Umajilives in the hearts of all; in the dancing feet of all her disciples and in the pages of her books and choreographies! A life worth lived is cherished by all of us here! Today I will not say ‘May your soul rest peace’, but will pray that ‘May God bless your soul for it to always keep dancing.’

(SandipSoparrkar is a well known Ballroom dancer and a Bollywood choreographer who has been honoured with National Achievement and National Excellence Award by the Govt of India. He can be contacted on sandipsoparrkar06@gmail.com.)

SandipSoparrkar

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