Respected Gurus
Started her initial training in kathak from Smt. Ranjana Thakur (disciple of Dr. Puru Dadhich) and later continued learning under Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar (disciple of Pt. Kartikramji and Pt. Ramlalji of Raigadh Gharana).
The zest to learn the finer nuances of Kathak has brought her to Smt. Uma Dograji, who herself is the leading Kathak exponent of Jaipur Gharana and a Gandabandh Shagird of Great Kathak Maestro Pt. Durga Lalji. With the blessings and guidance of all her Gurus, Tina’s dance has reached the heights of beauty and perfection.
In the picture, L to R - Smt. Ranjana Thakur, Smt. Uma Dogra and Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar
The zest to learn the finer nuances of Kathak has brought her to Smt. Uma Dograji, who herself is the leading Kathak exponent of Jaipur Gharana and a Gandabandh Shagird of Great Kathak Maestro Pt. Durga Lalji. With the blessings and guidance of all her Gurus, Tina’s dance has reached the heights of beauty and perfection.
In the picture, L to R - Smt. Ranjana Thakur, Smt. Uma Dogra and Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar
Pandita Uma Dogra
Awarded the "Sangeet Kala Ratna" and honoured as "Pandita", Smt. Uma Dogra is the senior most Ganda Bandh Shagird of late Pandit Durgalalji.Uma Didi, a Kathak exponent, is one of the most powerful and compelling dancer of India today. Endowed with a fascinating personality and highly imaginative mind, she brings to Kathak not only a mastery of technique that is fruit of a thought 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 Didi was initiated into the art of Kathak when she was barely seven years old. She had her early training in Lucknow School of Kathak under Smt. Reba Vidyarthi at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.
Later, she continued her studies under the able guidance of Pt. Birju Maharaj and gained a thorough grounding in the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. Her quest of enriching her art with the technique of the Jaipur School led her to the leading light of Gharana, Pt. 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 ji combines in her art the delicacies and daintiness of the Lucknow as well as the vigour of 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!Uma Didi has to her merits myriad performances in India and abroad. She has participated in major festivals in India and India festivals in abroad. The most prestigious festivals where she performed as a compelling representative of the Indian Cultural scenario. She won accolades in plenty. more...
Born of a distinguished family with a rich cultural heritage, Uma Didi was initiated into the art of Kathak when she was barely seven years old. She had her early training in Lucknow School of Kathak under Smt. Reba Vidyarthi at Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.
Later, she continued her studies under the able guidance of Pt. Birju Maharaj and gained a thorough grounding in the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. Her quest of enriching her art with the technique of the Jaipur School led her to the leading light of Gharana, Pt. 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 ji combines in her art the delicacies and daintiness of the Lucknow as well as the vigour of 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!Uma Didi has to her merits myriad performances in India and abroad. She has participated in major festivals in India and India festivals in abroad. The most prestigious festivals where she performed as a compelling representative of the Indian Cultural scenario. She won accolades in plenty. more...
Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar
Dr. Suchitra Harmalkar is a name synonymous with kathak in Madhya Pradesh. An exponent of the Raigarh Gharana of kathak. She is the most celebrated "shishya" of late Pt. Kartikram ji and his son Pt. Ramlal ji. She took her lessons from "Chakradhar Nritya Kendra Ustad Allauddin Khan Sangeet Academy Bhopal. Over the year she received guidance from' Pt. Birju Maharaj (Lucknow Gharana) and Pt. Mohan Rao Kalyanpurkar (Jaipur Gharana). Suchitra Didi's dance technique was further benefited by the able guidance of Guru Puru Dadhicha who hails from Jaipur Gharana. Her charismatic personality is a rare combination of attractive stage presence and excellent dance technique. Her performance are always spellbinding, her execution of the taal paksha is flawless. Her abhinay takes her audience through a gamete of emotions. Over the years she has performed all over India and abroad at all the major Dance festivals.
She has also acted in many plays and feature film "Khayal Gatha" directed by Kumar Shahni. She was lecturer of dance in Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidhyalaya Khairagarth and served there for three years. At present she is a professor and head of Dance Department in New Girls P.G. College, Fort, Indore. She has also conducted lecture demonstration in Govt. Rural School a part of programmes by IRCEN. more...
She has also acted in many plays and feature film "Khayal Gatha" directed by Kumar Shahni. She was lecturer of dance in Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidhyalaya Khairagarth and served there for three years. At present she is a professor and head of Dance Department in New Girls P.G. College, Fort, Indore. She has also conducted lecture demonstration in Govt. Rural School a part of programmes by IRCEN. more...
