Kuchipudi - the ancient classical dance form from Andhra Pradesh
Kuchipudi is an Indian classical dance originating in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, India and popular all over South India. Kuchipudi dancers are erratic and scintillating, rounded and fleet-footed. They perform with grace and fluid movements in tandem with classical Carnatic music. The singer is accompanied by mridangam, violin, flute and the tambura.
Kuchipudi makes use of fast rhythmic footwork and sculpturesque body movements. Stylized mime, using hand gestures and subtle facial expression, is combined with more realistic acting, occasionally including dialogues spoken by the dancers. In this blend of performance techniques, Kuchipudi is unique among the Indian classical dance styles performed either as a solo or a group presentation, but historically it was performed as a dance drama, with several dancers taking different roles.
The dance styles are based on the standard treatises like, Abhinaya Darpana and Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara, which is sub-divided into Nattuva Mala and Natya Mala. Nattuva Mala is of two types, viz. the Puja dance performed on the Balipitha in the temple and the Kalika dance performed in a Kalyana Mandapam. Natya Mala is of three kinds, viz. ritual dance for gods, Kalika dance for intellectuals and Bhagavatam for common people.
Kuchipudi is believed to have originated from a small village named Kuchelapuram, situated in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, it is 32 miles from Vijayawada. Six miles away from it lies Srikakulam, the ancient capital of the Satavahana empire (2nd century BC).
The bhakti movement encouraged followers to attain spiritual union with God not through sacrifices, rituals, pilgrimages or prayers, but through the “force of pure love and fervent yearning for God. During the Bhakti movement between the seventh to tenth century A.D, Kuchipudi was devolved by unifying two formal dance-drama streams. The Stree Smapradaayam, solo-pieces performed by women of courtesan and artisan class with themes based on Ashta Nayika, Shringara Rasa, Padams and Javali. The other, Purusha Sampradaayam were performed by men, which flourished as drama tradition with religious themes from the Puranas.
The Purusha Sampradaayam was performed by men, emphasized on drama tradition with religious themes from the Bhagavata Purana. The legend says that, Tirtha Narayanayati, a Telugu sanyasin of Advaitic persuasion and his disciple, an orphan named Sidhyendra Yogi is the founder of Kuchipudi. Tirtha Narayanayati authored Krishna Leela Tarangini. Sidhyendra Yogi, followed up with another play, the Parijatapaharana or The Stealing of the Parijata Flower, more commonly known as the Bhama Kalapam.
Sidhyendra Yogi after finishing the play, had trouble in finding suitable performers. He went to Kuchelapuram, the village of his wife’s family and present-day Kuchipudi, where he enlisted a group of young brahmin boys to put on the play.
Kuchipudi is strictly classical in nature incorporating Lasya, Thandava and Abinaya in the interpretation of Slokas. It incorporates Samyutha and Asamyutha Hasthas, Karana, Chari, Angahara, Mandala, Nrutha Hasthas etc. mentioned in the NatyaSasthra. Kuchipudi is the only dance form where all the four Abhinayas (Angika, Vachika, Aaharya and Satvica) are given equal importance. The use of Vachikabhinayam is the speciality of Kuchipudi dance style. The Dancer not only merely dances but also acts with gestures as well as words. It takes atleast ten years for an ordinary dancer to master this art and be able to express Bhava through eyes and Rhythm through foot work.
The major attraction in Kuchipudi dance style is the performance of Tarangam. The source literature is Narayana Teertha's Srikrishna Leela Tarangini. Dancing on the rims of a brass plate was introduced to make the style more attractive.
Late Guru Sri. Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, an unparalleled maestro in the filed created aflutter by introducing women to Kuchipudi. He has taken Keertanas, Astapadis, Padams, Sabdams, Tarangams for solo performance.
Padmabushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam is the recognised Guru and author of many songs for Kuchipudi Dance . He not only followed his Guru's footsteps but also proceeded even further down through the road of revolution. He undertook a detailed study of the oldest available treatise on dance. He refined Kuchipudi, by bringing it completely within the boundaries of Natya Sastra and gave it a wholly new perspective. 
Guru Vempati enlarged and enriched the repertoire both in solo items and dance dramas. Compositions of eminent poets in all regional languages were set to the dance. Apart from mythological themes, social themes has also formed the main subject of dances dramas. Gone were the days when men donned even the female roles. Guru Vempat's ballets showed a complete cycle were women not only performed but even adorned male roles.
Nithya Gollapudi - repertoire of Kuchipudi
Kum. Nithya Gollapudi is a well known Kuchipudi artist is settled in Arizona and running a dance school which trains in Kuchipudi enthusiasts. Nithya is a disciple of Padmasree Dr Sobha Naidu, the danseuse who has submitted her life for the pursuance of Kuchipudi.
In the year 2014, Raga Saptaswaram came up with a novel idea of holding concerts of artistes in dance and music in the presence of their gurus and then honouring them at a programme called ‘Guru-Sishya Puraskaram-2014’. Gollapudi Nitya Subhaprada’s Kuchipudi performed in the program with the mandatory rendition of a prayer to Goddess Sarawati Vani Paraku and a prayer to Vinayaka Pranamamyaham Gowrisutam . Then she performed for a theme on child Krishna in the song Nanda Nandana Gopala Navaneeta Chora , a pure abhinaya number sprinkled with jatis.
Being a noted Kuchipudi danseuse, she has performed in the Nrityotsav festival of dance organized by the South Indian Cultural Association (SICA) . She a regular performer in many of the prominent dance festivals. Nitya has performed in the Indradhanush 2016 which a platform to celebrate the Indian classical dances. She had also preformed before the senator of Arizona Mr. John McCain.
Nitya Gollapudi is performing at the Maha Ganapathi Temple of Arizona, Maricopa on 7 May 2016, 3:30 PM.
AZWishesh would like to invite one and all to make available and be present to enjoy the scintillating performance and grace the occasion. This occasion will be the golden opportunity to indulge into the culture and tradition of the ancient dance form of Kuchipudi.
By Premji
