Uday Kumar Shetty


Uday Kumar Shetty has cultivated a lifelong devotion to Odissi dance. He has studied under the most revered Guru Kulucharan Mahopatra and his son. He is the first student of the well known Nrityagram of late Prothima Gowri Bedi. Coming from a village near Thirthahalli Taluk in Shimoga district, he struggled to make a mark as a dancer.

What interested you to become an Odissi dancer?

"I saw Prothima Gowri Bedi dance in my village. I was amazed to see one person enact so many different characters. I was inspired by her dance, she is a beautiful dancer, looking at her I felt why can't I learn. So, I came to Bangalore and joined Gowri Maa's Nrityagram. I am the first student of Nrityagram. I chose to learn dance here because it followed the Gurukul system. The guru shishya parampara of learning is very important for me, in fact it has formed a strong base for my learning with perfection.

Tell me about your learning period?
"Since I was from the village, I was very rough and rude. Gowri Maa took good care of me, she was like my mother. Kulucharan Mahopatra and his son were my gurus at Nrithyagram. I literally had to melt my mind and body to bring grace and rhythm in myself. We used to practice for 8 to 9 hrs in a day.

What role did you play in Kurukshetra to Kargil?

"I play the role of 'Rudra', in this dance drama. I was offered this role by Hamsa Moily and M S Sathyu. The character 'Rudra' gave me freedom to perform. Generally in dance we have to follow 'Natyashastra', we are not allowed to break these rules of dance. But here I had a chance to bring out my movements and emotions independently.

From how many years have you been dancing?

" I started to learn in 1991 and continued for three years after that till 1993. Then I took a break for 7 years and came back in 1998. I took a 7 year break because I felt it was very difficult for a dancer like me to be recognised. But then I realised I can make it and be a well known dancer."

How did you begin your dance career again?

"When I came to Bangalore in '98 I met Indra Kadambi - a very well known artist and asked her to show me someone who could train me. She introduced me to Nirupama and Rajendra who helped me in many ways. It is very rare that one artist helps another but to this couple I give all the credit for building me again. I give my gratitude to Gowri maa, my guru Kulucharan Mahopatra and his son, Nirupama and Rajendra for what I am today."

How many performances have you to your credit so far, and which one is your best performance?

"In the last one year I have given around 55 performances. My best performance is Kurukshetra to Kargil in Mumbai. I learnt Hindi two days before the play, it was a challenge for me. Among others, I performed a 'Trigalbhandi' with Sathya and Murli which was unique.

What are your other interests?

"Dance is my only interest - it is like a sea - and there is so much to learn so where is the time to do other things? I want to be perfect in this field and be remembered as a good dancer. I even teach Odissi in Bangalore, Hampi and Kerala. My school is called 'Kalatheera'. "

Uday Kumar Shetty has dedicated his dance skills to the cause of young dancers whom he trains to keep alive the tradition of dance over the years. He plans to have a dance school where students take up dance as a full time vocation and reside there while they train and perform. He strongly feels that this art has to be passed on to aspiring youngsters, so that it gets enriched and lives for eternity.

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