Mangalore: You can’t miss it when you go to Kadri from Karangalapady, towarde City Hospital. There is a house, a large compound, and a verandah used as a dance learners’ stage’close to the main road. A Small board suggests that it is a Dance Academy set up and run by(late) U.S.Krishna Rao(son of Udupi Subbaro), born in 1914, married to Jayalaxmi in 1943, and one who studied in Canara High School and became a trained teacher at Vidya bodhini High School, while staying at his old home in Kadri.
He used to attend all cultural programmes held in town. He learnt dancing from K.K. Shetty who was a member of Uday Shankar’s world-class dancing troupe, and also had training under Mahalingam in Kathakkali. He started dancing classes at home in 1936, 75 years back, for small children, and also went to some rich persons houses to teach dance to their girls who later presented public shows and brought name and fame to the Guru.
At this time, another celebrated dancer, Rajan Iyer, made his appearance in Mangalore. USK learnt more dances from this illustrious teacher. The two together danced on the same stage in Bharathanatyam, Kathakkali and Manipuri forms. Krishna Rao’s disciples were invited to dance at several public functions, even outside the coastal region.
In Bangalore (at Vasant Nagar) there was another U S Krishna Rao(Udyavara, and a chemistry professor with chandrabhaga as his partner.
This Kadri dancer, USK, met Dr. S. Radhakrishnan in New Delhi in 1953 (when he was Vice-President of India), and it was Dr. S.R.who named USK’s dance academy as “Nrithya Vidyalaya” (Dance School). The dance teacher USK, Conducted dance programmes in New-Delhi, Bangalore, Mysore, Chennai, Mumbai and such other large cities, all over India.
The silver jubilee celebrations took place in 1961, in Bombay(Mumbai). Dr. Radhakrishnan awarded a cash prize to USK in 1965, when he was president of India.
Krishna Rao won several awards in 1971,1981, 1991,and 1998, at state level. He passed away in January 2007. His youngest Son, U K Praveen, has taken over the dance school administration, with his wife. His two sons Sharan and Chandan were taking part in dances.
From September 9 to 11, for 3 days, the Kadri Nrithya Vidyalaya(KNV),will hold programmes for its Platinum Jubilee, with Dr. Mohan Alva, Dr.Veerendra Heggade, dance Guru V.R. Dhananjayan(Chennai), Master Vithal, Ullal among others who will grace the high cultural occasion.