Uday Shankar was an internationally acclaimed Indian classical dancer. He initiated a unique movement of revival of classical dances in 1930. Though he had no formal training in any classical form, his presentations were creative. Uday used the essence of various traditions and techniques in his dance dramas and succeeded in presenting an integrated composition.
Background
He was born on 8 December in 1900 at the historic Udaipur city of Rajasthan to Bengali parents. He was the eldest son of noted barrister Syam Shankar. He was the eldest of the four siblings. His father was a Sanskrit scholar, who graduated with honours from the Calcutta University and later studied at the Oxford University, where he became a Doctor of Philosophy. Since his father moved frequently on account of his work, the family spent much time in Uday's maternal uncle's house at Nasratpur. Besides an adept classical dancer, Uday Shankar also had the brilliance of a painter within.
Education
Uday's studies also took place at various locations including Nasratpur, Gazipur, Varanasi and Jhalawar. At his Gazipur school, he learnt music and photography from Ambika Charan Mukhopaddhay, his Drawing and Crafts teacher.
Shyam Shankar had resigned his post in Jhalawar and moved to London. He joined his father in London, and on 23 August 1920, joined the Royal College of Art, London to study painting under Sir William Rothenstein.
Career
He first danced in 1924 in theatrical works produced with his father in London. Soon after, he created two ballets based on Hindu themes for the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlov based on Hindu Wedding and duet Radha and Krishna for inclusion in her program Oriental Impressions. In 1929 he formed his own company and toured India and the West until 1938. Returning to India, he opened a school for Indian dance, music, and drama he founded the Uday Shankar India Culture Centre in Almora, Uttar Pradesh (The school for dance, drama, and music closed during World War II but reopened in 1965 in Calcutta.) He toured until the 1960s. Shankar together with his brother Ravi Shankar created a new dance style imbued with elements of Indian classical, folk, and tribal dance; he also drew on Western theatrical techniques. Although adherents of traditional Indian dance criticized Shankar's work, his supporters included such eminent Indians as the poet Rabindranath Tagore.