Madhya Pradesh’s Kalidas Awards for Assam dance guru, Kathak danseuse

Bhopal: Veteran classical dance guru from Assam, Jatin Goswami, and renowned Kathak danseuse Guru Uma Sharma will be conferred Madhya Pradesh’s prestigious cultural award, National Kalidas Samman, for 2017 and 2018 respectively during the Khajuraho Dance festival later this month. The award amount comprises Rs 2 lakh and a plaque.

Goswami, 87, is a legendary choreographer of the Sattriya dance form which originated in eastern Assam. It is a dance-drama form with origins in the Krishna-centric Vaishnavist monasteries of Assam and attributed to the 15th-century Bhakti movement scholar and saint Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardev.

Born on August 2, 1933, in Assam, Goswami received dance education from his father and senior gurus. He was fond of dance from a young age and was instrumental in getting nationwide prestige to several northeast dance forms. His place is of utmost importance in terms of contribution made to excellence and preserving a rare dance tradition.

Similarly, Sharma has a reputation as a senior guru, choreographer and dancer in the field of Kathak dance.

Born in Delhi in 1942, she received dance education from Guru Hiralal and Girivar Dayal. Following the Kathak tradition of the Jaipur Gharana, she also received guidance from Shambhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj. Her dedication to Kathak is acknowledged the world over. She has also received the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. (IANS)

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