Guru Dr. Uma Vyjayanthimala Kallakuri

Founder and Director

Guru Dr. Uma Vyjayanthimala Kallakuri is an exponent of the Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Folk, and Temple Dance styles of Indian Classical Dance.

She began her dance journey at the tender age of 3 years old in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, India. The daughter of Kameswara Somayajulu and Manimala Mudda, and the eldest of 5 children, Uma always had a strong sense of responsibility and moral duty that allowed her to be very focused when learning. Her mother, Manimala, was a dancer herself and wanted Uma to learn the tradition and art of dance and took her to Guru Vempati Kodanda Rama Sastry (Son of illustrious Guru Vempati Venkata Narayana) to begin her practical training. Uma blossomed under his tutelage and was hailed to be a dancer of prodigious skill winning 1^st at the All India Dance Competition at the age of 8 while going up against 18 year old dancers.  Moreover, she began going to Guru A.U.R Somayajulu to enhance her theoretical training under his guidance. Her exceptional ability won her many scholarships/ awards and opportunities solely based on her merit such as: Andhra Pradesh Darsan (a documentary filmed across AP by the Education Department Government of Andhra Pradesh), and a 1^st place win for her Choreography, the drama Mohini Bhasmasura, at the age of 12. These opportunities shaped Uma, cementing not only her love of dance, but also her conviction that she was on the path to her career.

Now entering her college years, Uma was offered a Talent Search Scholarship to learn dance from the esteemed Guru Uma Rama Rao in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. It was a difficult decision to allow their daughter to leave home, but her parents recognized her desire to excel in this field and encouraged her to follow her passion. Uma excelled in Hyderabad while continuing her education and gaining her Master of Arts in English and History.

She made it her mission to procure as much knowledge as possible both with the practice and theory of dance. She received her formal dance diplomas in both Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi; additionally, she went to Guru C.R. Acharya, and specialized in the Temple Dances: Simhanandini (draws a picture of a lion with the feet) and Mayura Kautam (draws a picture of a peacock with the feet), revolutionizing their presentation by being the first to develop a frame prop for the art. Meanwhile, she continued to build her repertoire of theoretical knowledge by delving into the Natyasastra and other scholarly texts.

After her formal education, Uma established Nrityamala Dance Academy in 1984. The curriculum of the institution was set up not only to honor the traditions that Uma was trained in, but also to absorb the education, culture, and special ancestral items that she imbibed as a result of her vast knowledge and experience. NDA was an instant success and grew exponentially. Uma Vyjayanthimala’s younger sisters, Sudhamala and Madhavimala not only learned from her, but became her finest supporters as teachers and performers. The Mala sisters took the dance world by storm under the able guidance of young Artistic Director, Uma, and gained prominence with her original choreography, the dance ballet Murali Ravali, and other hit performances. They trained many renowned dancers, all of them becoming diploma graduates of Nrityamala Dance Academy and most of them, award/scholarship winning dancers, teachers, and scholars present in the dance world and entertainment industry. Uma herself gained accolades such as: the title ‘Singarmani’ from Sur Singar Samsad in Bombay, certification as a ‘Grade A’ Artist for Indian Television Network, and being selected as an Empanelled Artist for the Indian Consul for Cultural Relations for her dancing prowess and ability as a Guru.

Having achieved prominence in her chosen field, Uma approached another significant life change: marriage. She married Suresh Kumar Kallakuri in 1989 and immediately moved to Muscat, Oman leaving the Indian branch of Nrityamala Dance Academy in the able hands of her sister, Sudhamala. Suresh is very supportive of Uma’s career and encouraged her to keep performing and teaching which is how Uma continued to espouse the ideals of NDA to hundreds of students regardless of her location.

Consequently, she continued teaching through the birth of their children: daughter, Mani Pujitha and son, Krishna Suman, and through a move to Dubai, United Arab Emirates.  Eventually, the Kallakuris’ relocated to the land of opportunity in 1999, the United States of America, and settled in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.

Uma quickly became involved in McClean County Indian Association (MCIA), Telugu Association of Bloomington-Normal, community fundraisers and charities, and held many thought provoking workshops and lecture demonstrations in universities, thus establishing herself as an icon of cultural awareness in Central Illinois.

Simultaneously, Uma fulfilled her educational dream of obtaining her PhD. Having been interested in the concept of ‘Natyayoga’, she researched and unearthed ancient concepts that she brought forth in her thesis, Natya and Yoga: A Comparative Study. Uma was awarded her PhD from the prestigious Potti Sree Ramulu Telugu University in Hyderabad with high honors for her thought provoking material, and was encouraged to publish it into a book, Natyayoga. The book is exceedingly praised and honored and is used as a text for South Asian studies in universities globally.

Furthermore, Uma set up a branch of Nrityamala Dance Academy in Bloomington. They have conducted several performances, and original dance dramas such as Tiruppavai of Andal, and Rani Puvvu, not only in Illinois, but also across the nation and abroad. They are the first school to have been selected to have their performance live streamed to India from the Midwest, and are regularly featured on Indian television. Ultimately, Uma has established NDA as a cultural hub for Central Illinois, and does her best to train her students diligently in this tradition of dance education.

Having 4 decades in the field, Uma is an internationally renowned artist known for exploring and bringing to light ancient traditions and contemporary themes both in practice and theory. Today, Uma continues as a teacher, artist, professor, and a leader in the Indian cultural community firmly yet gently at the helm of her organization. Nrityamala Dance Academy guides hundreds of students through intensive training and cultural immersive understanding and allows the art form to permeate through any community by collaborating with local artists. In this regard, NDA, like Uma, perpetuates the message of “Unity in Diversity” providing disciples the chance to be advocates of society as well as an opportunity of retaining a complete spiritual experience through dance.

*Uma credits all her success to the support of her family and friends, and blessings from her teachers, parents, and Satguru Sivananda Murthy garu.

1.  Natyayoga: A Comparative study of Natya (Dance) and Yoga

Dr. Uma has completed a pioneering work in the field of Dance by introducing the theme ‘Natyayoga’ which has been examined in relation with a deep understanding of ‘Natya sastra’. Furthermore, she presented the ‘Natyayoga Technique’- an eight fold path for devoted seekers, who use the Indian classical art of dance as their path to self-realization. Uma asserts that everything in the universe is in a state of motion governed by this universal system of rhythm, periodicity and mutual regularity; thus, the Indian art of dance is derived from the dynamic presence of Nataraja. This elaborate study deals with voluminous literature both on yoga and dance from Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas. It also touches upon allied subjects such as Music, Sculpture, Painting, and Ayurveda- the practice of Indian medicine. ‘Naadopaasana’ - contemplating on the primal sound ‘Om’ and ‘Pindotpatti’ - a spiritual experience about the process of birth by Jeevatma (individual soul) are aptly discussed in this book.  All the Sanskrit Shlokas or Verses which are referred to from various texts are given in English, Telugu and Devanagari scripts for easy reading. All the relevant material, and charts and tables provided by the author make this book a must read and great reference work for students and research scholars of Dance and its allied subjects.

2.  Guru Parampara

Uma prostrates at the lotus feet of NATARAJA - the Lord of Dance, and her legendary Gurus:

Guru Vempati Kodanda Rama Sastry

Guru A.U.R. Somayajulu

Guru Dr. Uma Ramarao

Guru C. R. Acharya