KUCHIPUDI

Bhagavata Mela Natakam and KUCHIPUDI: Kuchipudi was initially trained to make the actors into BHAGAVATULU..ie performers of Bhagavatamela Natakams.

Present Scenario: Today a solo recital typically consists of such items as "SABDAM" , "BHAMAKALAPAM" (main item) "PADAMS' and "THARANGAMS". In Bhamakalapam the dancer has enormous scope for the dramatisation of characters.Sathyabhama is the main character who is a beautiful and arrogant queen who goes through the process of discovering the path of true LOVE and DEVOTION .Tharangam as I've already mentioned is more of dexterity and balancing feat where a pot filled with water is balanced on the head while balancing on the rim of a brass plate as the dancer moves around making a beautiful design in the process.

KUCHIPUDI

KUCHIPUDI : As we are aware , Siddhendra yogi the great saint of 14th century by incorporating the principles of Natyasasthra to the existing form of Yakshagana dance dramas had given it a new form.The outcome was a beautiful , elegant and distinct "KUCHIPUDI".The amalgamation of both folk and classical forms has been done with such dexterity that KUCHIPUDI has secured a special place amidst the other shining stars of the classical arena.KUCHIPUDI is not a mere dance form , but a combination of dance gestures , speech and song , hence a dancer has to be well versed in dancing , acting music etc.When they incorporate THARANGAM , the technique of balancing pot on head or use coloured powder on the feet to mark out a design on the floor , the dance takes one to a totally different world ! It was around 1930's the maestro Vedanta Lakshmi Narayana Sastry created ripples in the world of dance by introducing women dancers to Kuchipudi.Today KUCHIPUDI has metamorphosised to include both solo and group performances by both men and women.

KUCHIPUDI

SIDDHENDRA YOGI is remembered as the author of the famous play " BHAMAKALAPAM", about the playful fights between Lord Krishna and his consorts Satyabhama and Rukmini.He developed the most famous part of the Kuchipudi Dacne repertoire ..The Sathyabhama cycle.

Siddhendra Yogi incorporated the principles of Natyashastra (Bible of all Indian classical Dances) into the existing format of the Yakshagana folk dance dramas and gave it a new form.The outcome was a beautiful , distinct and elegant dance form called KUCHIPUDI..! The amalgamation of folk and classical forms has been done with much dexterity.One of the distinctive feature of KUCHIPUDI is the more relaxed flexed knee position , compared to the other classical dance styles of the southern India.The present style has undergone a lot of metamorphosis during the following centuries under the rulership of various kings....

KUCHIPUDI

Delving deep into the history of KUCHIPUDI ,Kakatiyas came in the 12th century. They subjugated Jayappa of the Ayya dyansty , and made him a commander.An ardent lover of dance , in all its many slandered forms , Jayappa wrote "NRITTARATNAVALI". Palkuriki Somanatha, an eminent poet of the Kakatiya court listed all these dance forms in his book "Pandittaradhyacharita" , in Telugu.

KUCHIPUDI

Devadasi system was the most prevalent in Andhra Pradesh.Hence we shouldn't doubt about the deeprooted origin of KUCHIPUDI dance form too.As i've already mentioned , Devadasies became victims of feudal abuse . Buddhism and Jainism flourished later on.Jainism was propagated by the Chalukyas. They exploited this dance forms and liberally patronized both classical and Margi style. MARGI is a style that is supposed to follow the text { Natyasastra } in toto. MARGI can also be termed as the GUIDING FACTOR. As a big controversy lies between the margi and desi style let us just take NATYASASTRA as a great work in DRAMATOLOGY.The Devadasies were degenerated to Rajanartakies or court dancers.

KUCHIPUDI

Srikakulam was the ancient capital of the SATAVAHANA empire {2 BC.}.The rulers of Satavahana were great patrons of art.From the inscriptions found here , on the temples of Andhra Vishnu , which was the most sacred shrine of those days , it is evident many devadasies received royal patronage .The sculptures excavated from this area show the grace of the women , whose dance was an art of worship.

KUCHIPUDI

The storyline goes like this.It is said that there was once an orphan of Srikakulam ,who was raised by the villagers.He was married at childhood as was the custom of the time.Later he was sent to Udipi for vedic studies.There he acquired the name Siddhendra Yogi.He returned to Srikakulam after acquiring mastery in his studies.The knowledge of vedas had inspired him into a different life.But the villagers admonished him to go back to his wife and take up family responsibilities.On the way, he had to cross a river.As he was swimming across ,he realised he could not proceed further.He then called the almighty to save him and upon reaching the shore he renounced worldly life and became a sanyasi.He settled in Kuchelapuram and instructed Brahmin boys in devotional dance drams based upon religious themes.These religious plays were presented as offerings to god in the traditon of Natya Shastra.Kuchipudi was thus nurtured by great scholars and artists and flourished as as a dramatic form of dance for hundreds of years.It was held in high esteem by the rulers of Deccan.

KUCHIPUDI

Another unique feature of Kuchipudi is the Tarangam , in which the performer dances on the edges of a brass plate , executing complicated rhythmic patterns with dexterity , while sometimes also balancing a pot of water on the head.There is a beautiful legend behind the origin of this beautiful dance form.As we know Kuchelapuram is a small town around 65 km from Vijayawada.

KUCHIPUDI

Kuchipudi today is performed either as a solo or group presentation,but historically it was performed as a dance drama ,with several dancers taking different roles.The themes are mostly derived from the scriptures and mythology and the portrayal of certain characters is a central motif of this dance form.One such example is Satyabhama,the colourful second consort of Lord Krishna.

KUCHIPUDI

The technique of Kuchipudi makes use of fast rhythmic foot work and sculpturesque body movements, stylized mime using hand gestures and subtle facial expressions.There is more realistic acting which occasionally is accompanied with dialogues spoken by the dancers.Kuchipudi today is performed either as a solo or group presentation.

KUCHIPUDI

A dance form belonging to the South again.The name depicts the village in Andhra Pradesh from where it originated-Kuchelapuram.This dance form grew largely as a product of bhakti movement beginning in the 7th century AD.It is characterised by fast rhythms and fluid movements ,creating a unique blend of control and abandon,strength and delicacy.