What students say about Uttaraa?

About me...

I am T.P. Sneha studying in VIII standard in Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1, Uppal, Hyderabad.

Since my joining UTTARAA in the year 2002 for learning Bharatanatyam dance at the tender age of 6½ years, there is perceptible change for the best in my attitude towards work, studies and other occupations. It is not exaggeration to say that my entire lifestyle has changed due to my intimate association with UTTARA. The valuable time I had spent with UTTARA helped me evolve my personality in different dimensions and give it an entirely new direction. But for the patient and dedicated efforts of my Guru, I would have remained a normal wayward child without any sense of purpose in life and ambition. The entire credit of moulding me into what I am today goes to my Guru and her expert tutelage.
During the last 5 ½ years I have given 96 stage performances (both solo and group) at various prestigious venues in Hyderabad and other parts of the A.P. and at Mysore & Kerala. In the first competition itself which I had competed in the year 2003 (Andhra Balananda Sangham Competition) I was adjudged first in the sub-juniors category and the receipt of my initial prize out of as many competitions which I had competed was from an eminent personality Dr. Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna which has forever etched in my memory. Another happiest and unforgettable day in my artistic life was when I was selected for the CCRT Scholarship in the year 2006. Yet another memorable day in my life was the 7th December, 2007 when my father informed me over phone that I had won the First Prize in Jawahar Bal Bhavan Inter School Competitions, when I, along with my Guru and other students of Uttaraa were at Tirupathi to perform on the occasion of Brahmotsavam of Alarmelmangha Temple.

I fervently hope to match the high standards set by my Guru and senior students at UCPA and do it proud one day.
About my Guru...

I should be thankful to the Almighty for giving me such a wonderful Guru whom I owe more than I can give. The enthusiasm, dedication and hard work of my Guru cannot be described in words but can only be experienced. If at all I had won so many prizes in such a short span of time, the credit goes only to my Guru because of the perfect tutelage and the confidence she gives to her students. During rehearsals for any program, we practice for hours together and the rehearsals do not end till the perfection is reached. Before giving us training in any item of the dance form, our Guru narrates the meaning of the dance so that we could convey apt expressions during performances. Though my Guru is very jovial by nature, when it comes to teaching/performances, she is very serious and demanding. Apart from being a good dance teacher, she handles nattuvangam and is also an excellent singer. Hence she is very special because of her multifaceted talents.
On Uttaraa Center for Performing Arts...

The Directors of Uttaraa Smt.Geetha Ganesan and Kum. Jayaprada Ramamurthy are like the two eyes of this August Institution. Apart from imparting excellent training in Bharatanatyam and Flute, the Institution aims to develop the all-round personality of the students by providing them with a platform for public performances at prestigious venues. Perfection is one aspect not compromised at UTTARAA.

I wish that one day Uttaraa Centre of Performing Arts will become one of the best Institutions in the country akin to Kalakshetra.