Indian Classical Dances

Kuchipudi

Kuchipudi is a Classical Indian Dance from Andrapradesh India. It is also popular all over South India.Kuchupidi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna District that borders the Bay of Bengal and also the  of the resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it acquired the present name. Kuchipudi derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram, in Andhra Pradesh, India. As a classical form of dance, drama and music Kuchipudi enjoys a unique place among the Indian classical idioms. Kuchipudi grew largely as a product of the Bhakti movement beginning in the seventh century A.D. However, it was in the 14th century that the ascetic Siddhendra Yogi appeared on the scene and gave Kuchipudi a new definition and direction.

Kuchipudi is purely classical in nature and employs Lasya, Thandava and Abinaya with the purpose of interpretation of Slokas. The classical Indian art also includes Samyutha, Asamyutha Hasthas, Karana, Chari, Angahara, Mandala, Nrutha Hasthas etc. It is unique dance form in the sense that it makes intricate use of four Abhinayas namely Angika, Vachika, Aaharya and Satvica respectively.

Modern Kuchipudi acquired its present form in the 20th century.  A number of people were responsible for moving it from the villages to the performance stage.  One of the most notable was guru Lakshminarayan Shastry.  After him, a number of other luminaries would mould it into its present shape.  Some notable names are Vempati Chinna Satyam, C.R. Acharyalu, and Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna.