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