She studied and performed Kathakali, Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi.
She received the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award[2] and Kalidas Samman for Classical Dance.
Rao traveled to study at Kerala Kalamandalam with a chaperone in 1939.
[8] She made her debut in Bharatnatyam in the Music Academy of Madras in 1942.
[6] Rao studied Kuchipudi under Vempati Chinna Satyam.