Gayatri

🪔 About

Maddali Usha Gayatri, born on April 26, 1955, in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh, India, is a distinguished Indian Kuchipudi exponent, danseuse, guru, and choreographer. Her journey in dance began at the age of four under the tutelage of Sri Dayal Saran. While she initially received training in Kathak, Odissi, and music, her primary interest gravitated towards Kuchipudi. She specialized in Kuchipudi under the guidance of Guru Vedantam Jagannath Sarma at his institution, Kuchipudi Kalakshetra, in Hyderabad. Further expanding her artistic repertoire, she also trained in Yakshagana, a traditional theatre form, under V. Satyanarayana Sarma, Vempati Chinna Satyam, and Vedantam Prahlada Sarma. She honed her skills in Nattuvangam, the art of conducting a performance with rhythmic cymbals, from Kamalarani. Academically, Gayatri earned a Master of Arts degree from Hyderabad Central University in 1988. She later pursued a Doctorate from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, where her research focused on the significant role of Satyabhama, a queen-consort of Lord Krishna, in the evolution of Telugu literature and its manifestation in dance. Throughout her extensive career, Maddali Usha Gayatri has choreographed and performed numerous ballets based on mythological, historical, and social themes. Her notable choreographic works include 'Yasoda Krishna', 'Alamelu Mega Charitam', 'Geethanjali', 'Aamrapali', 'Alokaye Sree Bala Krishnam', 'Matrudevobhava', 'Ila Vaikuntham', 'Trishakthi Vaibhavam', 'Swatatra Bharath', 'Amruthotsava Bharathi', 'Shiva Bhakta Markandeya', and 'Pushkara Pulakita Godavari'. She has portrayed various significant roles, such as Sathyabhama, Mandodari, Yasoda, Gouthama Buddha, and Yama, and notably, five different maternal roles in 'Mathrudevobhava'. Her performances have graced stages internationally, including a tour across Europe with a troupe of 40 Kuchipudi exponents and folk artists. In February 2017, she performed the ballet 'Swetcha Bharat', narrating Indian history from the Vedic period to the independence movement, where she received acclaim for her portrayal of Bharat Mata. Beyond her performing career, Gayatri worked at Punjab National Bank for over 25 years before taking voluntary retirement. In 1983, she established the Nritya Kinnera Kuchipudi dance academy in Hyderabad, with a branch in Mumbai, dedicated to imparting training in Kuchipudi to young aspirants. As of January 2018, 44 of her disciples had made their stage debut from her institute. Awards & Honours: Hamsa Award (Kala Ratna), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2023), Nrutya Ratna, Ugadi Puraskaram.