Usharani Maniam

🪔 About

Usharani Maniam, an esteemed Bharatanatyam dancer and guru, was a prominent figure in Singapore's Indian classical dance community, whose dedication spanned over 50 years. Born in 1950, she began her dance journey at the tender age of four. By nine, she was recognized as a child prodigy, earning a gold medal from the Mayor of Penang in 1958 for her Bharatanatyam performance. She further honed her skills at Bhaskar's Arts Academy, graduating in 1963. Her arangetram, or debut performance, took place around 1964, at the age of 14. Usharani Maniam commenced her teaching career in 1968, and from 1976, she was instrumental in expanding the reach of Bharatanatyam by teaching at community centers and local schools across Singapore. Her students consistently achieved gold awards at annual Youth Festival competitions and performed at significant national events like the National Day Parade and Chingay Festival. Beyond her teaching, Mrs. Usharani was a celebrated performer, representing Singapore internationally in countries such as Indonesia (1971), Australia (1972), Russia (1972), Malaysia, Holland, France, Germany, and the United States (1973-1980). She was also a member of the National Dance Company in 1971. Her passion extended to performing dance in multiple languages, including Kannada compositions. As a choreographer, she created dance dramas for children's television programs and staged major productions like Shivautsavam (2000), Shakuntala (2005), Aalaya Maha Utsavam (2015), and Natpu (2018). She founded the Usharani Maniam Dance Academy, which represented Singapore at the Shivarathiri festival in India in 2012. Usharani Maniam passed away on March 3, 2026, at the age of 76, leaving behind a profound legacy of nurturing generations of dancers and instructors. Awards & Honours: Gold medal from the Mayor of Penang (1958), 1st prize for Children's category (1960), Natya Thilagam (Jewel of Dancers) (1971), Nritya Kala Nipuna (1995), 15-year Long Service Award (1999), Natya Kala Mani, Singa Gama Award for Life Achievement and Contribution to Classical Indian Dance, 20-year Long Service Award, Natya Aachaarya Mani (2013), Inducted into Singapore's Indian Hall of Fame (2024).