Natyacharya K. Ramamurthy Rao’s Nupura Cultural Trust, Mysuru, will present its Annual K. Vanajakshamma Memorial Dance Event today (Dec.10) at 6 pm at Veene Seshanna Bhavana in Kuvempunagar. The specialty of this year’s event is a set of dual performances of mother-daughter, Pramoda Upadhya with her daughter Dr. Navami Upadhya and Seema Kiran Kulkarni with her daughter Sakshi Kulkarni.

Hanur Chennappa, Assistant Director, Department of Kannada and Culture, will be the chief guest. Dr. Poornima Krishnamurthy of Raaga Music Academy and Art Patron K.V. Murthy will  be present. Senior Dancer Pramoda Upadhya and Seema Kiran Kulkarni will be felicitated on the occasion.

Pramoda Upadhya had her initial training in Bharatanatyam from Kamala Bhat of Mangalore and advanced training from K. Ramamurthy Rao. It is also under him she passed Senior and Vidwat exams with distinction. Presently, she is training hundreds of students in and around Dharwad. She is the recipient of ‘Gurukularatna’ and ‘Dheemanta Mahile’ Awards.

Seema Kiran Kulkarni, an MBA holder, learnt dance under P.V. Upadhya and Mandakini and later from K. Ramamurthy Rao. She has performed for various sabhas in Udupi, Bangalore, Mysore, Hubballi, etc. She has started a dance school ‘Saketh School of Dance’, wherein she is training many enthusiasts. She has also participated in ‘Akka’ Meet in the US in 2010.  ­

— Dr. Padmavathi Narasimhan