Kalaimamani Smt. Uma Murali Krishna, the founder and director of Subhasheela Academy of Fine Arts, is a dancer par excellence, well versed in both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She has studied under iconic gurus including Padmashri K.N. Dhanda -yudhapani Pillai, Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman, and Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam. Smt. Uma’s insatiable passion for dance has led her to perform both nationally and internationally in places such as, the Gulf Countries, Singapore, Australia, Switzerland, Portugal, USA, and Canada. Popularly known in dance circles as “Poetry in Movement”, she has represented Indian Classical Dance in world-renowned festivals like The Festival of India in Muscat, ICCR Tour in Germany, and Soorya Global festival. Smt. Uma has also had the privilege of being selected to perform the Simhanandini for the Les Oriental Festival in France. This 500 year old item is complex and rare in the Kuchipudi repertoire, where the dancer draws a lion with her feet. Her spell binding portrayal of Madhavi in Silapadhigaram, the “Magnum Opus’ production of Sri. Madurai. R. Muralidaran, magnified her versatility in her presentations.
    With enthralling performances like these, Smt. Uma has won the appreciation and admiration of rasikas both in India and abroad. Smt. Uma has received innumerable titles and accolades for her outstanding virtuosity; some of them are Natyakala Rathna, Singaarmani, Yuva Kala Bharathi, NadanaMamani, and Kalaimamani.