The country's well-known artist-cum-dancer Uma Sharma and senior dance guru Jatin Goswami will be felicitated by the Madhya Pradesh Government with the National Kalidas Award instituted in the field of classical dance.

These awards by Department of Culture, Government of Madhya Pradesh, will be conferred on Jatin Goswami for the year 2017 and Guru Uma Sharma for the year 2018. It is worth mentioning that Jatin Goswami is a senior artist of Sattriya dance. Under this award, an amount of Rs 2lakh will be awarded.

Guru Jatin Goswami is a well-known senior dancer and choreographer. He was born on 2 August, 1933, in Assam.

He received his dance education from his father and senior gurus. From a young age, he was fond of dance.

Later on, he gave the country wide prestige to the North-East Sessional Dance. Their place is very important in terms of the contribution made to excellence and preserving a rare dance tradition. He has received many honors.

Similarly, Guru Uma Sharma is a senior choreographer and dancer in the field of Kathak dance. Born in Delhi in 1942, Uma received dance education from Guru Hiralal and Girivar Dayal.

After the Kathak tradition of the Jaipur Gharana, he also received guidance from Shambhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj.

His dedication to Kathak is underlined with importance. Uma has a reputation in the country and abroad and he has received honors like Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan.

These awards will be given Guru Jatin Goswami and Guru Uma Sharma on the inauguration of Khajuraho dance ceremony on 20 February.