Smt. Chitra Shankar
Bharatanatyam foundation through to Arangetram (2013).
Founder & Artistic Director
Guru Umamaheswari Srinivassane
Known to her students as Uma, she has taught Bharatanatyam in Singapore for over ten years, with patience, warmth and a gift for understanding young dancers.
10+years teaching
2013her Arangetram
3Arangetram productions led
10+masterclasses & workshops
Her story
A lifelong journey in dance
Umamaheswari Srinivassane began her dance journey in childhood. She started formal study of Bharatanatyam at the age of 21. After many pauses for marriage and motherhood, she returned to the art with renewed determination, and in June 2013 she performed her Arangetram at the SIA Auditorium, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore, under her Guru Smt. Chitra Shankar.
While preparing for her own performances, Uma began teaching young children the steps, rhythm and posture. She found that teaching deepened her own dancing, and she has taught children ever since. From 2013 to 2020 she was Centre Head and Teacher at a dance school in Sengkang, guiding around 50 students aged 5 to their late teens.
In 2020 she founded Bharathi Natyakala Academy to share her passion independently. Since then she has led three Arangetram productions across Singapore, India and hybrid formats, five annual showcases, and more than ten masterclasses and workshops with senior artists.
Lineage
Gurus & training
Smt. Jayashree Narayanan
Advanced training and masterclasses. A senior disciple of Kalakshetra; Salangai Cultural Academy, Puducherry.
Guru Srikanth Natarajan
Advanced items, choreography and the nuances of the art form.
Guru Nagai Sriram
Nattuvangam: rhythm and conducting for performances.
On stage
Performances & highlights
- Temple festivals: Navarathiri, Deepavali, Janmashtami / Krishna Jayanthi, Tamil New Year
- Community and national platforms: community centres, the Ministry of Manpower, National Day celebrations
- Earlier performances: Nritya Sangamam, Onam celebrations, schools, Changi Airport
- Choreographer for all academy productions
