Accolades and awards have come her way all through her career as a guru and artiste choreographer. Yet she has not let passivity take the better of her as she entered the veteran slot. Till date, Uma Rama Rao is actively involved in varied aspects of dance. It’s little wonder then that the prestigious Srikalasudha Telugu Association of Chennai chose to crown her with ‘Natyakalasudha’ award for her tireless service to dance along with stalwarts in allied genre like Vyjayanthimala Bali (Bharatanatyam), Uma Sharma, Kanak Rele (Mohiniyattam), Darshana Jhaveri (Manipuri) and the like.
Recently on her return from Chennai where she received the award from Tamil Nadu governor P. Rosaiah, Uma says, “I feel honoured for being recognised at this age. It’s a feel good factor for an artiste to know that she has not been forgotten or relegated to the background, after contributing a lifetime to the art form. My life has been dedicated to dance. Though I was a performer for a very short period, I went into academics of dance and taught the fine art to all those who had a passion for it. Today, I breathe dance, think dance and dream dance. As one project on hand is nearing completion my mind is already set on the next — be it choreography, composing poems into songs suited to dance, writing books on dance or teaching my disciples,” she says with conviction.
Her house is home to many of her disciples and friends who love to spend time with her discussing dance or seeking advice both on personal and professional matters. At any time of the day, the drawing room is full with some admirer or the other and there is no dearth of hospitality either. Frank and outspoken, aesthetic and erudite, Guru Uma Rama Rao wears her standing in national art forums lightly on her sleeve. As the prima donna of Telugu University’s dance department, from where she retired some time ago, she still guides students on the academic front be it doctoral research or PG dissertation or Central grant study. Her own doctoral thesis on Thanjavur King Shahaji’s ‘Yakshagana Prabhandamulu’ throw deep insight into the history and development of Yakshagana. She’s not just a brilliant academician but also translates theory into practice by choreographing them into dance ballets which have won accolades both here and elsewhere. No wonder she was the recipient of ‘Mahila Ratna’, an award instituted for veterans in the field of art and literature!
Energetic despite heart surgeries, ever cheerful and full of pep, Uma Rama Rao ‘s enthusiasm to serve dance is worthy of emulation.
“This is not just my home; it’s an open house for all those who are interested in dance, music and literature and even cinema,” she chuckles. “I tried my hand at acting in a film (Boys) too!” she adds with a smile.
