https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Narendra_Sharma_%28dancer%29Narendra Sharma (dancer) - Revision history2026-09-07T12:25:01ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Narendra_Sharma_(dancer)&diff=158673&oldid=previmported>Ira Leviton: Fixed a typo found with Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss.2021-05-28T22:13:53Z<p>Fixed a typo found with <a href="https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Bharatpedia:Typo_Team/moss" class="extiw" title="wikipedia:Typo Team/moss">Wikipedia:Typo_Team/moss</a>.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian dancer and choreographer (1924–2008}}<br />
{{About|the dancer and choreographer|the Hindi writer and lyricist|Pandit Narendra Sharma}} <br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Narendra Sharma<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1924|09|21}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Bulandshahar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[British Raj]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2008|01|14|1924|09|21}}<br />
| death_place = [[Delhi]], India<br />
| occupation = Dancer and Choreographer<br />
| education = [[Uday Shankar]] Cultural Centre<br />
| awards = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Narendra Sharma''' (September 21, 1924 – January 14, 2008) was an Indian dancer and choreographer. He was trained in [[Uday Shankar|Uday Shankar's]] school of modern dance. He is regarded as a pioneer in modern Indian dance.<ref name="obitkhokar">{{cite web |last1=Khokar |first1=Ashish Mohan |title=Narendra Sharma (1924-2008) |url=http://www.narthaki.com/info/profiles/profil88.html |website=narthaki.com |accessdate=24 April 2019}}</ref> For his contributions to the field, he received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Contemporary Choreography in 1976.<ref name="snalist">{{cite web |title=SNA: List of Awardees |url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/Awardees.php?section=all |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi |publisher=Government of India |accessdate=22 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="snacitation">{{cite web |title=Narendra Sharma |url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=858&at=2 |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi |publisher=Government of India |accessdate=25 April 2019}}</ref> <br />
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== Early life ==<br />
Narendra Sharma was born on 21 September 1924 in [[Bulandshahar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]. He ran away from home at a young age to enrol in [[Uday Shankar]]'s cultural centre at [[Almora]], where he was mentored by [[Uday Shankar]] and [[Zohra Sehgal]].<ref name="obitkhokar" /> He was initially denied admission due to his young age. In a 2002 interview, Sharma recalled: "They asked me to get the consent of my guardian, but I had closed all doors behind me. When that night I was sitting on a footpath, Dada (Pt Uday Shankar) called me over. He registered my zeal and accepted me as a student. I was the youngest in Dada’s first batch of students who were taught contemporary Indian ballet at Almora."<ref name="tribune">{{cite news |last1=Tandon |first1=Aditi |title=ARTISTES WHO INSPIRE: A celebrated choreographer |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020921/windows/main4.htm |accessdate=25 April 2019 |work=The Tribune |date=21 September 2002}}</ref><br />
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== Career ==<br />
Sharma started his career in [[Bombay]], where he came under the influence of the [[Indian People's Theatre Association]]. His early experiments in choreography were in collaboration with Sachin Shankar, a nephew of [[Uday Shankar]]'s. In 1954, he moved to [[Delhi]] and started his long association with [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]], New Delhi, as full-time dance teacher. Sharma's move to Delhi was the result of an invitation from the school at the express desire of principal [[M. N. Kapur]].<ref name="thehindubharatinterviw">{{cite news |last1=Rajan |first1=Anjana |title=Growing up with Delhi |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/Growing-up-with-Delhi/article16045952.ece |accessdate=11 May 2019 |work=The Hindu |date=24 September 2010}}</ref> Working with children and adolescents, he choreographed over 300 productions.<br />
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During the early years in Delhi, Sharma also worked with the [[Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra]] and helped to create the Ramlila.<ref name="obitkhokar" /> In the late 1960s, he taught dance for two years at the [[University of Washington]].<ref name="indiatoday1975">{{cite news |title=Narendra Sharma brings new concept in entertainment for children |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19751231-narendra-sharma-brings-new-concept-in-entertainment-for-children-824075-2014-06-23#ssologin=1#source=magazine |accessdate=1 May 2019 |work=INDIA TODAY |date=31 December 1975}}</ref> In 1972, he set up an independent dance group, Bhoomika.<ref name="bhoomika">{{cite web |title=BHOOMIKA: ON FOUNDER DIRECTOR, NARENDRA SHARMA |url=http://bhoomikadance.blogspot.com/2009/07/on-founder-director-narendra-sharma.html |website=bhoomikadance.blogspot.com |accessdate=25 April 2019}}</ref><br />
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In the 1980s he choreographed several major public performances, e.g. at the opening ceremony of the [[1982 Asian Games]].<ref name="indiatodayasiangames">{{cite news |last1=Sethi |first1=Sunil |title=IX Asiad opening day ceremony in New Delhi leaves die-hard critics speechless |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19821215-ix-asiad-opening-day-ceremony-in-new-delhi-leaves-die-hard-critics-speechless-772448-2013-07-31 |accessdate=24 June 2019 |work=India Today |date=15 December 1982}}</ref><br />
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After his retirement from Modern School, Sharma continued to train students and choreograph productions, and remained active as a dancer even in his late seventies.<ref name="tribune" /> He died on 14 January 2008.<ref name="obitkhokar" /><br />
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== Awards and honours ==<br />
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], 1976<ref name="snalist" /><ref name="snacitation" /><br />
* Sahitya Kala Parishad Award<ref name="katrakbook">{{cite book |last1=Katrak |first1=Ketu H. |title=Contemporary Indian Dance: New Creative Choreography in India and the Diaspora |date=July 2011 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-349-32633-4 |pages=40–42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lxt_DAAAQBAJ&q=sahitya+kala+parishad+award+narendra+sharma&pg=PA40 |accessdate=1 May 2019}}</ref><br />
* Soviet Land Nehru Award<ref name="katrakbook" /><br />
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== References ==<br />
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== External links ==<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsNilcLzS1E A short film on Narendra Sharma]<br />
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<!--- Categories ---><br />
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[[Category: 1924 births]]<br />
[[Category: 2008 deaths]]<br />
[[Category: Indian choreographers]]<br />
[[Category: Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]</div>imported>Ira Leviton