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In step with the land's tune
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U.S. Krishna Rao set up one of the first Bharatanatya schools in Dakshina Kannada. For a region that was a Yakshagana stronghold, the form is now gaining popular acceptance
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Bharatanatya now has a mass appeal in the coastal region.
DAKSHINA KANNADA is the land of Yakshagana. Other forms do not have a rich history like Yakshagana does. In fact, Carnatic music has only recently started flourishing in the region and joining the list is Bharatanatya. And though the first school of Bharatanatya was set up quite early, it is only now that it is flourishing.
The credit of first introducing Bharatanatya in the region goes to U.S. Krishna Rao. Mr. Rao began his career as a school teacher at Kadri Vidya Bodhini School in 1934. He took up dancing, both at the performing and teaching levels almost at the same time. After learning Bharatanatya, Mr. Rao set up a dance school at Kadri in 1939, the Kadri Nritya Vidya Nilaya. It was perhaps the first such school in the district. The school has completed 64 years, and under the leadership of his son, U.K. Praveen, it continues to offer dance education. It has branched out to different parts of the country and abroad, considering the varied backgrounds of its students.
When Mr. Rao started teaching Bharatanatya in the district, there was not much interest. The reason was stigma attached to Bharatanatya, that it was an art form that prostitutes or devadasis had initiated. As a result, Mr. Rao had to face many difficulties while introducing Bharatanatya education. But he eventually succeeded in preparing a set of students by 1935, and under his guidance, they gave their first performance in the same year. But all this required hard work, Mr. Rao had to visit houses to erase the stigma attached to the dance form and convince parents that anybody could learn Bharatanatya. In due course of time, Bharatanatya got its recognition here, while it also emerged as a highly sophisticated art form.
Hard work
Mr. Rao's hard work brought him laurels. In 1971, he won the State Award for his meritorious service in teaching. He became the member of Sangeetha Nritya Academy, Karnataka. In 1981, he was conferred the Karnataka Kala Tilak title by the State government. He received the Rajyotsava Award in 1991. He even won the Natya Rani Shantala award in 1997.
Vidwan U.K. Praveen, son of Mr. Rao, continues the cultural legacy of his father, while his wife, Usha Praveen teaches Carnatic vocal music.
This dance school has choreographed many dance dramas such as Krishna Leela, Ganesha Mahime, Karnataka Vaibhava, Sreenivasa Kalyana, Sati Dakshayani, Bhasmasura-Mohini, and Ganesha Janana. Veera Nari Judith, a story from the Bible, a dance drama on national integration, has also been performed. The dance dramas have been performed at various places in the country a number of times.
Sharada Pooja
The tradition of performing Sharada pooja continues even to this day. The occasion features a one-hour music and two-hour dance programme by students of the school.
The troupe now noted in Bangalore, Aruna Kalavidaru, was established by U.K. Arun, the eldest son of Mr. Rao. The students who have passed out of the Kadri School have been teaching Bharatanatya in Delhi, Mumbai, Singapore, and in other places.
The dance school set up in Mangalore 64 years ago is now contributing to the dance form by having many dancers graduating from it. The dancers have performed at the national and international levels.
It is an understatement to say that the school is primarily responsible for the spread of Bharatanatya education along the coastal belt.
RAVIPRASAD KAMILA
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Mangalore
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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