A Kathak veteran and recipient of the Padma Bhushan, Dr. Uma established her dance school with a passionate commitment to promoting Kathak. As a Kathak exponent, she takes pride in preserving and teaching this Indian classical dance form using traditional pedagogy.

Dr. Uma Sharma is a Kathak Artist, Performer and the Director of Bhartiya Sangeet Sadan in New Delhi.

Dr. Uma was born and raised in New Delhi, where she completed her school and college education. She studied at St. Thomas’ Girls School and later attended Lady Shri Ram College.

Recalling her childhood, Dr. Uma remembers it as lovely. She enjoyed playing with dolls and exploring her creativity through dance. She fondly recalls performing dance on Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthdays and actively participating in her college's annual functions. She was even elected as the president of her college’s dance and music society. Watching movies in the theatre with her group of friends is another cherished memory from her younger days.

Discussing her career path, Dr. Uma shares that after finishing school, she initially enrolled in law college with aspirations of becoming a lawyer. However, feeling uncomfortable as the only female in her class, she switched to Lady Shri Ram College and continued her passion for dance, learning from Guru Hiralal and Girvar Dayal of the Jaipur gharana. She emphasises the significance of making the right career decision at the right time.

After college, Dr. Uma was unsure about her next step but knew she wanted to pursue something creative. She stumbled into acting when she and her sister were cast in a play by a choreographer. This led her to join Hindustani Theatre in Delhi and later Bhartiya Kala Kendra, where she played the role of Sita in a Ramayana enactment, igniting her journey into Kathak.

Dr. Uma honed her acting skills under Shri Shambu Maharaj and learned Kathak from Pt. Sundar Das and Pt. Birju Maharaj. Her performances caught the attention of the Sangeet Natak Academy. In 1961, she was selected by Bhartiya Kala Kendra to travel to Russia along with her other fellow artists. When she came back, she was again invited to Canada as a solo artist and she stayed there for six months. After coming back, she began teaching dance.

Dr. Uma, driven by her unwavering belief in hard work, established her dance school from scratch. Despite lacking funds or support, her determination and talent led her to fulfil her dream. After performing in London for nearly four years, she returned in 1971 and received a donated piece of land from the GOI. With financial assistance from then-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, brick by brick, she gradually built her dance school.

Giving us an account of her achievements, Dr. Uma says that she has been conferred with prestigious awards like the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, and many others. Yet, her greatest honour lies in her devotion to Kathak. Additionally, she showcased her multifaceted talent by producing, directing, and starring in the TV show "Naina," where she brought renowned poets' works to life through dance. Continuing her legacy, she organises performances at esteemed venues like Mirza Ghalib ki Haveli, Birla Mandir, and the India International Centre. She also nurtures the next generation by hosting the Swami Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Mahotsava, enriching youth with India's traditional arts.

When asked about her role models, Dr. Uma cites her parents and her gurus, who have always encouraged her to dance, as her role models.

Addressing the current generation of classical dancers, Dr. Uma emphasises the paramount importance of respecting your guru. She advocates upholding the traditional guru-shishya relationship, emphasising the importance of respect. At her school, she ensures adherence to this ethos, with dedicated and sincere gurus imparting high-quality education rooted in tradition to their students.

Dr. Uma's life mantra is to uphold righteousness, honour her guru, have faith in God, and tirelessly pursue her goals with dedication.

During her leisure moments, she finds joy in listening to classical music and indulging in viewing evergreen retro movies. Additionally, she explores spirituality as a means to unlock her creativity and attain mental peace.