Kuchipudi - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian dance

Classical Indian dance

Indian classical dance is a relatively new umbrella term for various codified art forms rooted in Natya, the sacred Hindu musical theatre styles, whose theory can be traced back to the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni .- Definitions :...

form Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. It is also popular all over South India

South India

South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...

. Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi (village)

Kuchipudi is a village in Movva mandal in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, India. The classical Indian dance form of Kuchipudi is believed to have originated from this village....

is the name of a village

Village

A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...

in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district

Krishna district

Krishna District is a district of India's Andhra Pradesh state. It is named after the Krishna River, the third longest river that flows within India, flows through the district and joins Bay of Bengal here in this district. It has a population of 4,529,009 of which 32.08% is urban as of...

that borders the Bay of Bengal

Bay of Bengal

The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...

and with resident Brahmin

Brahmin

Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...

s practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the present name.

The performance usually begins with some stage rites, after which each of the character comes on to the stage and introduces him/herself with a dharavu (a small composition of both song and dance) to introduce the identity, set the mood, of the character in the drama. The drama then begins. The dance is accompanied by song which is typically Carnatic music

Carnatic music

Carnatic music is a system of music commonly associated with the southern part of the Indian subcontinent, with its area roughly confined to four modern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu...

. The singer is accompanied by mridangam (a classical South India

South India

n percussion instrument), violin

Violin

The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....

, flute

Flute

The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...

and the tambura

Tambura

The tambura, tanpura, or tambora is a long-necked plucked lute . The body shape of the tambura somewhat resembles that of the sitar, but it has no frets – only the open strings are played to accompany other musicians...

(a drone instrument with strings which are plucked). Ornaments worn by the artists are generally made of a light weight wood called Boorugu.

Style

Kuchipudi dancers are quicksilver and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed. Performed to classical Carnatic music

Carnatic music

, it shares many common elements with Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam

Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...

. In its solo exposition Kuchipudi numbers include 'jatiswaram' and 'tillana' whereas in nritya it has several lyrical compositions reflecting the desire of a devotee to merge with God -

Beyond the stylistic differences of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam steps, there are certain types of dances that are unique to Kuchipudi. Specifically there is the Tarangam of Kuchipudi which is unique in that the dancer must dance upon a brass plate, placing the feet upon the raised edges. The dancer moves the plate with much balance as the individual is traditionally dancing on the plate with two diyas (small oil-burning candles) in his or her hands while balancing a "kundi" (small vessel) containing water on their head. At the end of the dance, typically, the dancer extinguishes the candles and washes his or her hands with the water from the vessel.

There are also subtle differences in the costumes of both types of dances. Generally, Bharatanatyam dresses have three fans of differing heights that form the illusion of the spreading pleats of a sari. However, in Kuchipudi there is typically only one fan which tends to be longer than the longest of the three fans present on Bharatanatyam dresses.

The 20th Karana

Karana dance

Karanas are the 108 key transitions in the classical Indian dance described in Natya Shastra. Karana is a Sanskrit verbal noun, meaning "doing"...

is very often used in Kuchipudi dance. Apart from six padabhedas, Kuchipudi dancers also use some adugulu or adavus traditional to this school: Chaukam, Katteranatu, Kuppi Adugu, Ontaduvu, Jaraduvu, Pakkanatu

Kuchipudi, a blend of music and abhinaya, is Andhra Pradesh's unique contribution to dance.

The dance styles in the State are based on the standard treatises, viz. Abhinaya Darpana and Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara, which is sub-divided into Nattuva Mala and Natya Mala. Nattuva Mala is of two types - the Puja dance performed on the Balipitha in the temple and the Kalika dance performed in a Kalyana mandapam.Nattuva Mala is of three kinds, viz. Ritual dance for gods, Kalika dance for intellectuals and Bhagavatam for common place.The Natya Mala is a dance-drama performed by a troupe, consisting only of men, who play feminine roles .

Movements and Music

The songs in Kuchipudi are mimed with alluring expressions, swift looks and fleeting emotions evoking the rasa. In Tarangam at times she places a pot full of water on her head and dances on the brass plate. The song accompanying this number is from the well known Krishna Leela Tarangini, a text which recounts the life and events of Lord Krishna

In expressional numbers a dancer sometimes chooses to enact the role of Satyabhama, the proud and self-assured queen of Lord Krishna, from the dance-drama Bhama Kalapam. She goes through various stages of love. When in separation from Lord Krishna, she recalls the happy days of union and pines for him. At last they are reunited when she sends him a letter.

One more number from the Kuchipudi repertoire that deserves mention is Krishna Shabdam, in which a milkmaid invites Krishna for a rendezvous in myriads of ways giving full scope for the dancer to display the charms of a woman

Well known people in this tradition

Nilimma Devi
Anila Kumari
Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam
Vempati Chinna Satyam
Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam was born on October 25, 1929 in Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh. He is a legendary dancer and a guru of Kuchipudi dance form. Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, a great master in the field, initiated Young Vempati into this great art...
Guru P. V. Bharani Shenkar
Chinta Ravi Bala Krishna
Chinta Ravi Bala Krishna
Chinta Ravi Bala Krishna is a winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar for 2009, a recipient of the singular honor of Yuva Sutradhari at the Siddhendra Yogi Nrityotsav in 2007, a Gold Medallist M.A Kuchipudi, as well as being a winner of a host of other...
Anurag Deb (Ayush- Paglu Chhaglu Maharaj) Kolkata, West Bengal
Debasis Pradhan (Botu Maharaj) Kolkata, West Bengal
Guru Bhagavathula Yagna Narayana Sarma
Guru Jayarama Rao and Vanashree Rao
Srinivasa Rao Ravi
Vedantam Lakshminarayana
Dr. Uma Rama Rao
Dr. Uma Rama Rao
K. Uma Rama Rao is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, research scholar, author and dance teacher. She is also the Founder & Director of Lasya Priya Dance Academy, established in 1985 in Hyderabad, India....
Tadepalli Perayya
Chinta Krishna Murthy
Vedantam Sathya Narayana Sarma
Dr. Korada Narasimha Rao
Guru Bala Kondala Rao
Bhagavathula Venkata Rama Sarma
P.B Krishna Bharathi
Pasumarthi Venu Gopala Krishna Sarma
Dr.Raja Radha Reddy
swagath kuchipiudi
Smt.Manju Bhargavi
Sobha Naidu
Mahamkali Surya Narayana Sarma
Dr.Ratnasri
Swathi Gundapuneedi
Divya Yeluri
Vijayapal Pathloth
Vamshee Krishna Varma
Mallika Ramprasad
Indira Sreeram Dixith
Revathi Komanduri
Ravi Vempati
Sasikala Penumarthi
Kamala Reddy
Vanaja Ayyalaraju Dasika
SandhyaSree Athamkuri
Sarada Jammi
Anuradha Nehru
Sailaja Pullela
Himabindu Challa
Yamini Saripalli
Shantala Shivalingappa
Shantala Shivalingappa
Shantala Shivalingappa is an Indian Kuchipudi dancer. Shivalingappa, a “child of the east and west,” was born in Madras, India, and raised in Paris. Her gurus are Vempati Chinna Satyam and her mother, Savitry Nair, under whom she trained in Bharatha Natyam. She has worked with prestigious artists...
Lalitha Sindhuri

The prominence of Kuchipudi dance form is not limited to India alone. There are now a number of popular Kuchipudi teachers, choreographers and dancers in North America, United Kingdom, Australia and many parts of the world.

The Sutradhar Institute of Dance and Related Arts - Silver Spring, Maryland

Kuchipudi Dancers Set World Guinness Record

Over 2,800 Kuchipudi dancers, including 200-plus natyagurus created a Guinness Book of World record on December 26, 2010 performing Hindolam

Hindolam

Hindolam is a rāgam in Carnatic music . It is an audava rāgam . It is a janya rāgam , as it does not have all the seven swaras . Hindolam is not the same as the Hindustani Hindol...

Thillana

Thillana is a rhythmic piece in Carnatic music, from which the Hindustani tarana originated, generally performed at the end of a concert and widely used in dance performances. A thillana uses tala-like phrases in the pallavi and anupallavi, and lyrics in the charanam...

at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Hyderabad.

The spectacular show performed by dancers from 15 countries and every state was staged in praise of Kuchipudi choreographer Siddhendhra Yogi.

The 11 Minutes Programme was staged as part of the concluding ceremony of the three-day 2nd International Kuchipudi Dance Convention.

The Chief Guest of the Event President of India

President of India

The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...

, Smt.Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Patil

Pratibha Devisingh Patil is the 12th President of the Republic of India and first woman to hold the office. She was sworn in as President of India on 25 July 2007, succeeding Dr. A.P.J...

, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, and the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, congratulated the participants.
Rapturous applause filled the venue as the programme came to an end and a representative of the Guinness Book of World Records announced that she was speechless with the magnitude of the programme.

Kuchipudi exponents Vempati Chinasatyam, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Raja Reddy Radha Reddy, and Sobha Naidu were felicitated by the President.

Later, disciples of Raja Reddy Radha Reddy performed Devi Smriti invoking the goddess to remove people’s sufferings.

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy who had announced an assistance of 25 lakh Rupees on the Inaugural Day, handed over a cheque for the amount to the Union minister of state for Human Resources Development, Smt. Daggubati Purandeswari

Daggubati Purandeswari

Daggubati Purandhareswari is an Indian politician from the state of Andhra Pradesh. She is a member of the Indian National Congress where she represents the Visakhapatnam constituency of Andhra Pradesh in 15th Lok Sabha of India...

Prominent Artists and SNA Awardees

Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma ‘Satyam’ 1961
Chinta Krishnamurthy 1968
C. Ramacharyalu 1978
Vempati Chinna Satyam 1981
Nataraj Ramakrishna 1983
Vedantam Prahlada Sarma 1985
Pasumarthy Venugopala Krishna Sarma 1987
Sobha Naidu 1990
Raja Reddy 1991
Radha Reddy 1991
Josyula Seetharamaiah 1993
Vedantam Parvateesam 1994
Jayarama Rao 1998
Banashree Rao 1998
Swapnasundari Rao 1999-2000
K. Uma Rama Rao 2003
Pasumarthi Seetha Ramiah 2004
Korada Narasimha Rao 2005
Pasumarthy Rathiah Sarma 2006
Yelesarapu Nageswara Sarma 2007
Vasanta Lakshmi 2008
Narasimhachari) 2008
Vyjayanthi Kashi 2009
Ratna Kumar 2010

Style

Movements and Music

Well known people in this tradition

Kuchipudi Dancers Set World Guinness Record

Prominent Artists and SNA Awardees

See also