The Immortal Heritage of Uday Shankar, the craftsman of the Indian modern dance

New -Delhi, September 25 (IANS). There are many such names in the world of art that were immortal by crossing the boundaries of all the ties and time. Uday Shankar was one of the great personalities that made not only a art of execution, but a cultural bridge. He is called the father of modern dance in India. At the time when the Indian classic dance was limited to traditions only, Uday Shankar gave him a contemporary form on the world scene. The date of September 26 is to remember the same personality we left on this day. Uday Shankar, who was born on December 8, 1900, was originally interested in painting. He reached the Royal College of Art in London to study in 1920. During his studies, he performed Indian dance on a charity program in London. This presentation impressed the then famous Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavalova that he suggested sharing the stage with Uday Shankar. He then flew. Ballet presentations gave him international fame. Uday Shankar did not take formal training in any Indian classical dance, but was deeply introduced to Indian art, folk dances and traditions. Ballet and stage – Aesthetics in Europe have deeply affected him. His famous works include Tandava Dance, Shiva Parvati, Lanka Dahan, Rithm or Life, Shram and Yantra, Ramlila and Lord Buddha. In these presentations, costumes, rhythm, music and stage decoration are all compiled. In 1937 he founded Europe’s first Indian dance party ‘Uday Shankar and Hij Hindu Balls’ in Paris. For seven years he has spread India’s cultural shade in Europe and America. His presentations not only attracted art lovers, but also made a global identity of employment. In 1948, Uday Shankar made a film called ‘Kalpana’, which is considered a unique experimental work of the Indian theater. In this he showed a new path by carrying dance, visual art and filming. He received several prestigious awards for his invaluable contribution to creativity and Indian dance art. He was awarded the Songemi Award in 1960, after which in 1962 he received the Songetet Natak Academy Fellowship. In 1971, the government of India honored him with Padmavibhushan, the second highest civil honor in the country, and in 1975 he received the indigenous honor. To bring his art to more people, he established Uday Shankar Center of Dance in Kolkata in 1965, which still preserves and makes his rich dance tradition alive. Uday Shankar died on September 26, 1977 in Kolkata. But his contribution to establishing the Indian culture on the world scene will be immortal for centuries. It would not be wrong to say that he was a craftsman of Indian modern dance. An artist who has freed the art of boundaries. -Ians psk/gkt