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 Pandita Uma Dogra is an Indian Kathak exponent and one of the most powerful and compelling dancers of contemporary India. Pandita Uma Dogra is endowed with a fascinating personality and highly imaginative mind, thus bringing immense innovation within the traditional Kathak steps. She has not only acquired the mastery of Kathak through meticulous training, but a total involvement in dance, an insightful confidence and a blissful impulsiveness that infuses her performance with an exceptional intensity and authority.
Pandita Uma Dogra was born in a distinguished family with a rich cultural heritage and was initiated to the art of Kathak when she was barely seven years old. She had her early training in the Lucknow school of Kathak under the guidance of 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 methodical base in the Lucknow gharana of Kathak. Her quest for enriching her art with the techniques of the Jaipur School led her to the limelight of that Gharana. Then she learnt the Jaipur gharana of Kathak from well-known dancer Durga Lal. She was the first 'ganda bandh' disciple of the expert and has founded the Samved Society in memory of her guru. Under the umbrella of this Society, Uma Dogra has been conducting annual music and dance festivals in Mumbai since several years.
Besides a busy performance career, Pandita Uma Dogra also choreographs dance sequences for stage performances and television serials. She is also a customary performer on television. Pandita Uma Dogra is one of the recipients of the Sangeet Kala Ratna award. Presently, Pandita Uma Dogra is settled in Mumbai and is one of the leading Kathak soloist and teacher in India. Her dedication to the arts and her contribution to the Samved Society for Performing Arts in 1990 are noteworthy in the Kathak domain. This society not only trains and gives scholarships to performing artists but also offers them great opportunities to perform by organising two important annual festivals of classical dance and music at Nehru Centre and the NCPA.
Major performances of Pandita Uma Dogra
1979 - India Festival in Mauritius
1979 - India Festival in the USSR
1980 - India Festival in Zambia and Kenya
1980 - Performed and lecture demonstrations in Japan
1982 - Performed in Holland
1982 - India Festival in UK
1983 - Dance Festival in Korea
1998 - Performed in Australia
1998 - India Festival in USSR
1991 - Performed in UK
1995 - Performed and conducted workshops in Australia
1998 - Performed on the 50th celebration of Indian Independence in Sydney
2002/2003 - Conducted workshop in Los Angeles & New York USA
2002/2003 - Conducted workshop in Pt. Jasraj School of Music in Atlanta USA
2004 - Performed for AIA's charity show for aids prevention in New York
2004 - Performed and conducted workshop in London and Bristol
Titles and Awards received by Pandita Uma Dogra
State Level Sanskritik Karya Sanchalay in Maharashtra - Certificate of Merit in Vividh Kala Mahotsav, in 1994.
Department of Tourism in Karnataka - Samman Patra in 1998
Sanskritik Vibhag in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh - Pratikalpa Kala Samman in 2003
Department of Tourism in Bihar - Kesariya Samman in 2003
Department of Tourism in Bihar - Vaishali Samman Patra in 2004
Sanskritik Vibhag and Dept. of Tourism in Madhya Pradesh - Samman Patra in Khajuraho Festival in 2005
From Institutions Academies of Abroad Vandana Arts in New Delhi - Certificate of Merit in Budding Artist of the Year in 1977
Shobhna Awards - Awarded Certificate of Merit in 1979
Sur Singaar Academy - 'Sringar Mani' at Kal ke Kalakaar Sangeet Sammelan in 1980
Sangeet Kala Kendra in Agra in Uttar Pradesh - Sangeet Kala Ratan in 1995
Sri Sangeet Sevalay in Gaya in Bihar - Samman Patra in 1999
Mahima Foundation in Pune in Maharashtra - Honoured by Smt. Rohini Bhate in 2002
Ahinav in Indore in Madhya Pradesh - Awarded by Smt. Sumitra Mahajan - Sargam Kala Samman in 2003
Kathak Mahayagnya in Pune in Maharashtra - Awarded by Pt. Birju Maharaj - Gaurav Puraskar in 2004
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