Uma Sharma’s contribution to Kathak is marked by her innovative style and creativity. She has regained for Kathak its old glory and restored to it the lost frontiers of poetry and the tradition of abhinaya. She has also kept alive the folk tradition of raas leela. Her impressive body language evokes the images of a poem and with rhythmic footwork, she mesmerises the viewers. Her, ‘one woman exposition’ gave Kathak new dimensions. As a teacher extraordinaire, she has been grooming many young talents too. Excerpts from a one-on-one with her:
The name Uma Sharma is now synonymous with the dance form, Kathak. How much do you love dancing today?
Kathak has been my life for the past many years and would continue to be so. It has been my passion, my love, my everything. It flows in my blood even today. I still enjoy performing on stage. I teach this dance form to many budding artistes and devote most of my time to Kathak. Kathak and Uma are inseparable.
Uma-ji, after so many years of performance, how do you see Kathak in its present form?
Kathak is based on the devotional Krishna poetry of medieval times and the highly cultivated court poetry of the18th and the 19th centuries which celebrated shringara, the sentiment of love. I am happy to see pure and applied Kathak growing in leaps and bounds.
It is a global dance form which is liked by many cultures all over. It has been made even more popular through films and TV. But to make it sustainable and strong, more efforts can be made especially in our country for its growth.
Tell us something about your long association with Kathak ?
I have been trained by the greatest gurus of Kathak tradition such as Shambhu Maharajji (Lucknow Gharana) who set unmatched standards in the art of abhinaya and Sunder Prasadji of the Jaipur Gharana who emphasised rhythmic footwok and its permutations.
I sought to achieve a creative fusion of the two and focus on the powerful thematic content and artistic presentation. I have depicted the works of Ghalib, Kaifi Azmi Sahib, Harivansh Rai Bacchan, Meera, Tagore, (duet with Spanish Flamenco) and other literary greats through my dance. My little inputs and my own choicest team of musicians and dancers make Kathak a fascinating experience. Kathak has given me the freedom of expression, creativity, inner satisfaction and everything.
Who do you rate as all time Kathak greats?
Well, many senior Kathak dancers namely Sitara Devi, Birju Maharajji and Roshan Kumari etc are greats.
I joined them in getting the training from great performers like late guru Shri Shambhu Maharaj and guru Sunder Prasadji. I am also a fan of Yamini Krishna Murthy.
Your thoughts on youngsters, especially from abroad, learning Kathak in India?
Yes, thats is very encouraging. Many school children from different countires are learning Kathak under the guidance of the gurus.
See, Deena Nath from Guyana (West Indies), Madina and Sanam from Tazakistan (under the ICCR scholarship ) have accompanied me today. Indeed, they are very diligent students and have picked up the art form really well.
After such a successful long journey, do you have any wishes left unfulfilled?
I am ever thankful to god for what I have been bestowed with and have achieved.
The vast ocean of music is still lying unexplored and there is always scope to excel. I would surely like to present Kalidasa’s Meghdoot and Amanat Ali’s Indra Sabha in the Kathak style sometime in the near future.
Any special message for your admirers?
If you dedicate yourself to what you need to learn, if you practice it sincerely, you will succeed. Music unites.
Please associate yourself in some way or the other with Kathak. It will not only support the beautiful dance form but would also enrich and enlighten you.
