When he danced it seemed as if Lord Shiva and Kartikeya had come alive on stage. Through his dazzling performances and intricately choreographed shows Uday Shankar introduced the art of Indian dance to the world. Uday Shankar's talents as a dancer and choreographer were first recognized by the legendary Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova and he partnered her in several performances. A prize winning student at the Royal Academy of Arts, he could have become a painter but instead he chose to dance. He was one of the first dancers to present Indian dance in a new, innovative style and his dance company toured Europe and America to great Acclaim.