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{{Short description|Indian Kuchipudi exponent (born 1955)}}
{{Family name hatnote|Maddali|lang=Telugu}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Maddali Usha Gayatri
| birth_name = Mallavarapu Usha Gayatri
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|4|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Kurnool]], Andhra State, India
| education = {{Indented plainlist|
* Master of Arts, [[Hyderabad Central University]]
* Doctorate, [[Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University]]
}}
| occupation = [[Kuchipudi]] dancer
| children = 1
| awards = {{ubl
| [[Hamsa Award]]
| [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
}}
}}

'''Maddali Usha Gayatri''' ({{Nee|'''Mallavarapu'''}}, born 26 April 1955) is an Indian [[Kuchipudi]] exponent, danseuse,<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=25 March 2010 |title=Beloved stories on stage |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/Beloved-stories-on-stage/article16614562.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> [[guru]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |date=22 July 2010 |title=Sumptuous ballet |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Sumptuous-ballet/article16206184.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and choreographer from the state of [[Andhra Pradesh]]. A recipient of [[Hamsa Award]] (now called Kala Ratna) and [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], she received critical acclaim for her choreography and performances. She performs ballets in mythological, historical and social themes. One of her works, ''Nrityam Darsayami'', included a [[Dance troupe|troupe]] of 12 of her disciples performing for 12 hours uninterruptedly.

== Early life and education ==
Usha Gayatri was born on 26 April 1955 to Mallavarapu Sundaresam and Janakamma in [[Kurnool]], [[Andhra State]] (now in [[Andhra Pradesh]]).<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi3F0unTXFI |title=Kuchipudi Kalakar Maddali Usha Gayatri Exclusive Interview {{!}} Kalaa Shikaram {{!}} Hindu Dharmam |date=6 May 2017 |type=Videotape |language=te |publisher=Hindu Dharmam |access-date=17 December 2022}}</ref> has a sister, Uma Gayatri, who is a musician. She completed her [[Master of Arts]] from [[Hyderabad Central University]] in 1988. She researched and published her thesis on the role of [[Satyabhama]], second queen-consort of Hindu god [[Krishna]],<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Hudson |first=D. Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IMCxbOezDi4C&pg=PA264 |title=The Body of God: An Emperor's Palace for Krishna in Eighth-Century Kanchipuram |date=25 September 2008 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-19-970902-1 |pages=264 |language=en}}</ref> in the growth of [[Telugu literature]], development and incarnation in dance from [[Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |date=9 January 2018 |title=నృత్యరత్న.. డా. మద్దాళి ఉషాగాయత్రి |language=te |trans-title=Nritya Ratna.. Dr. Maddali Usha Gayatri |work=[[Andhra Bhoomi]] |url=http://www.andhrabhoomi.net/content/main-feature-912 |url-status=live |access-date=16 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221217173710/http://www.andhrabhoomi.net/content/main-feature-912 |archive-date=17 December 2022}}</ref>

== Training in dance ==
Gayatri started training in dance, when she was 4 years old, from Sri Dayal Saran. Despite being trained in [[Kathak]], [[Odissi]] and music, her interests directed towards Kuchipudi.<ref name=":5" /> She thus learned Kuchipudi from her guru, Vedantam Jagannath Sarma, at his dance institute Kuchipudi Kalakshetra in [[Hyderabad]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kothari |first1=Sunil |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xa8FamiJJKgC |title=Kuchipudi |last2=Pasricha |first2=Avinash |publisher=Abhinav Publications |year=2001 |isbn=9788170173595 |pages=158}}</ref> She trained in [[Yakshagana]], a theatre form, from [[V. Satyanarayana Sarma]], [[Vempati Chinna Satyam]] and Vedantam Prahlada Sarma and learned {{Interlanguage link|Nattuvangam|lt=nattuvangam|qid=Q33125458|italic=yes}} (the art of [[conducting]] a performance with rhythmic music using two [[cymbals]])<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLFIAQAAIAAJ&q=nattuvangam |title=Journal of the Ananthacharya Indological Research Institute |publisher= |year=2004 |volume=7-8 |pages=95 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=M. Athira |first= |date=14 June 2018 |title='Nattuvangam' is not even treated as an instrument these days, says K.S.Balakrishnan |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/in-conversation-with-nattuvanar-ksbalakrishnan/article24151554.ece |access-date=13 January 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> from Kamalarani.<ref name=":5" />

== Career ==
In June 2010, Gayatri choreographed a ballet ''Alamelu Manga Charitham'' on the narrative of Hindu goddess [[Alamelu Manga]], consort of [[Venkateswara]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&q=padmavati |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |publisher=[[Penguin Books India]] |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |pages=291 |language=en |author-link=Roshen Dalal}}</ref> and [[Alamelu Mangapuram]]. While the performances were well received, the mythological ballet was criticized for deviating from the [[sthala purana]], the religious account of a Hindu temple,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Frykenberg |first=Robert Eric |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vy27HF4FWtAC&pg=PA155 |title=History and Belief: The Foundations of Historical Understanding |publisher=[[William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company]] |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-8028-0739-7 |pages=155 |language=en}}</ref> of [[Venkateswara Temple]] in [[Tirumala]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=25 June 2010 |title=Toying with tradition |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Toying-with-tradition/article16267666.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Later in July, she performed ''Rukmini-Satya'', a ballet incorporating the characters of [[Rukmini]] and [[Satyabhama]], first and second [[queen-consort|queen-consorts]] of Krishna,<ref name=":7" /> together and performed both the roles. She developed Rukmini's part of the play based on [[Pothana Bhagavatham]] and [[Sri Krishna Leela Tarangini]]; and used [[Siddhendra Yogi]]'s Bhamakalapam for Satyabhama. She was praised for her performance and comprising two different characterizations in a single ballet.<ref name=":1" />

In March 2011, she presented a ballet ''Matru Devo Bhava'' in which she played the mythological motherly roles of [[Parvati]], Leelavati, [[Sita]], [[Yashoda]] and [[Vakula Devi]]. Scripted by [[Bnim]], she received commendation for her performance and choreography.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=24 March 2011 |title=Tribute to mothers in mythology |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Tribute-to-mothers-in-mythology/article14959771.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In August, she performed Kunti Vilapam, an account of the life of [[Kunti]], mother of the [[Pandavas]] in ancient Hindu epic [[Mahabharata]], based on the writings by [[Jandhyala Papayya Sastry]]. She received praise for her performance and the composition of the ballet.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=25 August 2011 |title=Moods of Kunti |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/moods-of-kunti/article2396419.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

Later in June 2013, she performed a ballet under the title ''Shodasa Krishnam'' showcasing the adventures of Krishna which she composed from various works, including that of [[Annamacharya]]. She was praised for her choreography and performance in various characters in divergent themes.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=27 June 2013 |title=Ways of Krishna |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/ways-of-krishna/article4856011.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In July 2015, marking the 30th anniversary of her dance academy, Nritya Kinnera, she choreographed two ballets – ''Pushkara Pulakita Godavari'' and ''Amrapali''. ''Pushkara Pulakita Godavari'', scripted by Bnim, is themed around the [[Pushkaram]] of the [[Godavari River]] in which she played the role of [[Hindu deity]] [[Brihaspati]], while in ''Amrapali'', she played the role of [[The Buddha]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=2 July 2015 |title=Tales through ballets |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/tales-through-ballets/article7379291.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In May 2016, Gayatri released a book titled ''Kuchipudi Art and Satyabhama'' describing Satyabhama and choreographed a ballet based on [[Bhamakalapam]]. She instated excerpts from other poets on the literature surrounding Satyabhama in her play, including the scores of [[Narayana Teertha]], [[Nandi Thimmana]] and [[Tarigonda Vengamamba]]. She received critical acclaim for her performance and choreography.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=19 May 2016 |title=Repertoire on Satyabhama |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/repertoire-on-satyabhama/article8619621.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Later that year during June–July, she toured across Europe in a group of 40 Kuchipudi exponents and folk artists and performed in several ballets.<ref>{{Cite news |last=G. S. Subrahmanyam |date=5 July 2016 |title=Promoting Amaravati among expatriate Telugus |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/Promoting-Amaravati-among-expatriate-Telugus/article14474330.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In February 2017, she performed a ballet ''Swetcha Bharat'' ({{Translation|Independent India}}) narrating the story of Indian history from [[Vedic period]] until the [[Indian independence movement]]. Scripted by Bnim, she took upon the role of [[Bharat Mata]], the [[national personification]] of India as a [[mother goddess]], for which she received acclaim.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=2 February 2017 |title=Maddali Usha Gayatri's dance for Republic Day |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/Maddali-Usha-Gayatri%E2%80%99s-dance-for-Republic-Day/article17140204.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

She also performs ballets on historical themes and social values. {{As of|2018|1}}, she choreographed more than 200 ballets,<ref name=":5" /> some of which include ''Alokaye Sri Balakrishnam'',<ref name=":0" /> ''Goda Kalyanam'',<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Gudipoodi |first=Srihari |author-link=Gudipoodi Srihari |date=1 December 2011 |title=Ballet evoking God |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/ballet-evoking-god/article2677089.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> a ballet on [[Rallabhandi Kavitha Prasad]]'s translation of [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s ''[[Gitanjali]]'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Ranee |date=31 May 2012 |title=Delightful and romantic |language=en-IN |work=[[The Hindu]] |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/delightful-and-romantic/article3472811.ece |access-date=16 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> ''Sankranti Lakshmi'', ''Siva Bhakta Markandeya'' based on the text written by {{Interlanguage link|Mudigonda Sivaprasad|te|ముదిగొండ శివప్రసాద్}} on the life of the sage [[Markandeya]], ''Swarnotsava Bharati'' and ''Vandemataram''.<ref name=":5" /> She also choreographed ''Nrityam Darsayami'' which included a [[Dance troupe|troupe]] of 12 of her disciples performing for 12 hours uninterruptedly dancing 72 concepts of Kuchipudi.<ref name=":5" />

== Other work ==
Gayatri worked in [[Punjab National Bank]] for over 25 years and retired voluntarily.<ref name=":5" /> She established Nritya Kinnera Kuchipudi dance academy in Hyderabad<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kuchipudi Institutions in Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, India |url=https://narthaki.com/kuchipudi/kuch1ai.htm |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=narthaki.com |archive-date=16 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221216124645/https://narthaki.com/kuchipudi/kuch1ai.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> in 1983<ref name=":5" /> where she teaches Kuchipudi.<ref name=":2" /> {{As of|2018|1}}, 44 of her disciples debuted on stage from her institute under her supervision.<ref name=":5" />

== Awards ==
Gayatri received several honours for her contributions among which [[Hamsa Award]] (now called Kala Ratna) was conferred by the government of [[united Andhra Pradesh]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 August 2001 |title=Hamsa awards announced |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hamsa-awards-announced/articleshow/77848466.cms |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=[[The Times of India]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> She was also conferred the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 February 2024 |title=Announcement of Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for 2022 and 2023 |url=https://sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/annoucement/1709191095_Final%20Press%20Release%20for%20Sangeet%20Natak%20Akademki%20Fellowship,%20Sangeet%20Natak%20Akademi%20Awards%20and%20Ustad%20Bismilla%20Khan%20Yuva%20Puraskar%20for%20the%20years%202022%20and%202023.pdf |access-date=20 March 2024 |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Gayatri married {{Interlanguage link|Maddali Raghuram|te|మద్దాళి రఘురామ్}} who is also an artist and runs Kinnera Art Theatre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bnim |author-link=Bnim |date=September 2015 |title=మద్దాలి కిన్నెరసాని |trans-title=Maddali Kinnerasani |url=https://www.acchamgatelugu.com/2015/09/maddali-kinnerasani.html |access-date=17 December 2022 |website=acchamgatelugu.com |language=te}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> They have two sons among which one of whose wife, Soundarya Kaushik, is also a Kuchipudi exponent and has debuted on stage in August 2014 supervised by Gayatri.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2021 |title=Soundarya, chiselled by two artisans - Natyahasini |url=https://natyahasini.in/soundarya-chiselled-by-two-artisans/ |access-date=16 December 2022 |website=Natyahasini}}</ref>

== Published works ==

* {{Cite book |title=అమ్మమ్మగారి కాశీయాత్ర |publisher=Kinnera Publications |language=te |trans-title=Grandmother's pilgrimage to Varanasi}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 February 2022 |title=పుస్తక సమీక్ష |trans-title=Book review |url=https://www.ntnews.com/news/new-books-released-2-438333 |access-date=17 December 2022 |website=[[Namasthe Telangana]] |language=te}}</ref>
* {{Cite book |url= |title=Kuchipudi Art and Satyabhama |publisher=B. R. Rhythms |year=2016 |isbn=9788188827565 |language=en}}<ref name=":6" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Maddali, Usha Gayatri}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Kurnool]]
[[Category:Artists from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Kuchipudi dancers]]
[[Category:Dancers from Andhra Pradesh]]
[[Category:Dancers from Telangana]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian dancers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women artists]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kala Ratna]]
[[Category:University of Hyderabad alumni]]
[[Category:Telugu people]]
[[Category:Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University alumni]]
[[Category:Indian dance teachers]]
[[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]

Maddali Usha Gayatri - Revision history

MarcyThompson89: creating the bio added tags.