Amala Shankar

🪔 About

Amala Shankar (née Amala Nandy), a legendary Indian dancer, choreographer, and actress, was born on June 27, 1919, in Jessore, then undivided Bengal (now Bangladesh). Her journey into dance began at the age of eleven when she met the pioneering dancer Uday Shankar in Paris in 1930 during the International Colonial Exhibition. She joined his dance troupe in 1931 and received her initial and main training under him. Amala Shankar also had the opportunity to train in various other dance styles, including Manipuri dance from Amoubi Singh, Kathakali from Shankaran Nambudiripad, and Bharatanatyam under Kandappa Pillai, at Uday Shankar's dance centre in Almora. She married Uday Shankar in 1942 and became his primary dance partner, performing leading roles in his experimental and modern Indian dance productions. Their collaborations were known for a unique synthesis of Indian classical and folk dance forms, characterized by expressive minimalism, precision, and grace. Amala Shankar attained significant appreciation both in India and abroad through her performances. A highlight of her performing career was her lead role opposite Uday Shankar in the 1948 dance film "Kalpana," which showcased her versatility in dramatic and folk-inspired movements. Following Uday Shankar's death in 1977, Amala Shankar dedicated herself to preserving his legacy. She directed the Kala Kendra dance institution in Kolkata from 1965 onward, teaching for over 50 years and influencing generations of dancers across India and Bangladesh. She continued performing into her later years, notably enacting the role of King Janaka at the age of 92 in the dance drama "Sita Swayamvar". Amala Shankar was the mother of musician Ananda Shankar and dancer Mamata Shankar, and sister-in-law to sitarist Ravi Shankar. For her contributions to Indian dance and performing arts, she was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 1991, the Banga Vibhushan in 2011, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna in 2012. She passed away on July 24, 2020, in Kolkata, India, at the age of 101. Awards & Honours: Padma Bhushan (1991), Banga Vibhushan (2011), Sangeet Natak Akademi Tagore Ratna (2012).