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USHA RANI SHARMA
Born: Jan 02, 1948
Date of Passing: Jan 31, 2026
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryUSHA RANI SHARMA
Her name means “dawn”. With the early morning sun streaming in her window at St. Boniface Hospital, Usha Sharma left this world peacefully, following a long illness. Usha was the daughter of Ramchandra Banaudha and Triveni Devi of Agra, India. She was predeceased by her parents, and her brothers Kuldeep Narain and Pradeep Narain; she is survived by her youngest brother Sudhir Narain, and her son Prateek.
Usha Sharma was an extraordinary dancer and teacher of Kathak; an inspired and intricate choreographer, as well as poet/librettist, designer and cultural historian. In the illustrious Benaras gharana, she trained under the legendary gurus Gopi Krishna, Sitara Devi and tabla maestro Pandit Shanta Prasad. She won the All-India Dance Competition in 1963, performing for such luminaries as John F. Kennedy and Jawaharlal Nehru. After years with Sachin Shankar Dance Ballet and Birju Maharaj’s Kalakendra Company in Delhi, Usha Sharma moved to Winnipeg in 1977, where she founded Jhankaar School of Dance and Music in 1995, and became Artistic Director of Manohar Performing Arts of Canada in 1996. Usha Sharma’s unerring vision shaped not just performances, but generations of dancers in Winnipeg and beyond, whose art will be her legacy. Her choreography was last seen in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Nutcracker in December 2025.
Usha’s grace, warmth, courage and kindness will be remembered as much as her artistry; she was beloved by her many friends, respected by her community as a wellspring of classical tradition, and adored by her students for the twinkle in her eye.
You are dancing your way to the imperishable stars; and we will never forget.
Usha Sharma’s life will be celebrated at her funeral on Thursday February 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at Thomson “In the Park” Funeral Home, 1291 McGillivray Blvd. Shanthipath will be held Friday February 6, 6:00 -7:00 p.m. at the Hindu Temple, 999 St Anne Rd. Om Shanti.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Feb 06, 2026