Uday Shankar is known as the father of the modern dance movement in India and a festival in his memory is held in Jaipur each year, bringing together a variety of dance groups from around the country. The 6th Uday Shankar Dance Festival in Jaipur attracted dance groups from all over India. One of the most evocative pieces performed was Besant Street, that tells the story of a typical day in a typical Mumbai street.

Sachin Shankar, Director, Ballet Unit, Mumbai, says, "My street conveys everything of life itself. In the happenings from morning to evening, I have chosen those incidents which are relevant and known and can be understood by ordinary people."

Another interesting piece during the three-day festival was Kalpavriksha, that combines rhythm with modern dance, to convey a strong message for preserving the environment. Narendra Sharma, Director, Bhoomika Dance Centre, Delhi, comments, "These days, people have created a big distance between themselves and nature and have only a utilitarian approach to nature, as something which is useful for them. But there is no respect for nature, nor do people see it as an inseparable part of their soul. So I have tried to display that in my creation."

Even all these years after his death, Uday Shankar's legacy remains a major source of inspiration for dancers. Tejasvini Lele, of the Thanjavur Nritya Shala, enthuses, "Uday Shankar is the biggest inspiration for us. The experiments he did continue to push us even today, to do something new. It's the duty of artists to continuously experiment, so that they can provide fresh entertainment for people. We shouldn't just copy whatever has been happening for centuries; rather we should contribute something new."

Despite the lack of government support, the ballet festival has now become an annual feature in Jaipur--a happy sign of the Pink City's continuing patronage of the arts.