Almora: Lauding the contribution of Uday Shankar, President A P J Abdul Kalam said that he gave a new and wholesome definition to Indian dance and music.

"Gifted with a wide vision, he was able to appreciate the wonderful variety and scope of expression afforded by different classical and folk dance forms of our country," he said after laying the foundation stone of Uday Shankar Academy for Dance and Music.

His greatest contribution was he took the essence of various dance traditions and techniques and combined them into an integrated new form which was vibrant, novel, a beauty to behold and an elevating experience to comprehend, Kalam said, adding that was why he was widely accepted as the father of modern dance in India.

Kalam hoped that the academy set up by Ministry of Tourism and Culture and Uttaranchal government "acts as a catalyst for sustained rejuvenation of various art forms in our country".

The Centre has approved Rs 2 crore for the academy of which Rs 45 lakh has already been released to the CPWD to start construction work.

An annual international dance and music festival is proposed to be held at the academy.

PTI