Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MB)

Mangalore, Jan 11: Widely renowned and respected Bharatanatyam exponent and teacher and founder of Kadri Nritya Vidyalaya,  U S Krishna Rao (92), passed away here on Wednesday, Jan 10.

Recipient of Karnataka Rajyotsava award, Kala Tapaswi and Natyarani Shantala awards, he was also honoured with a national award.

Initially trained by Mahalingam in Kathakkali, and Rajay Iyer in Bharatanatyam, Rao founded his own dance school in Kadri in 1941.

He had given a number of performances in Mangalore, Mumbai, Delhi and other cities in India and also presented his dance in the presence of VIPs like the late Jawaharlal Nehru. His school has the credit of having observed its golden and diamond jubilees.

He was also on the board of examiners of Karnataka high school dance education. He had served for two terms in the Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy and member of south zone cultural centre in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

He is survived by son U K Pravee, himself a Vidwan currently running the school founded by his father, and three daughters.

His late son Arun had founded and managed the well-known theatre group, Arun Kalavidaru.

His daughters Nirmala, Shailaja and Sandhya too are accomplished classical dancers. While his daughter-in-law Usha Praveen is a Sangeet Guru, grandsons Arjun and Chandan are budding film artistes. Another grandson Sharan is a Bharatanatyam artiste.