Kuchipuri Classical Dances of India Part 2

Kuchipudi  -- The classical dance of Andhra & Telengana region

     Kuchipudi developed as a religious art linked to traveling bards, temples and spiritual beliefs, like all major classical dances of India. Evidence of Kuchipudi's existence in an older version are found in copper inscriptions of the 10th century, and by the 15th century in texts such as the Machupalli Kaifat. aspect of the dance is thoroughly placed through variety of items such as Tillana, Kavuttam. It is both a solo and group performance. It originated in the Kuchipudi village situated in the Andhra Telengana region of India.

Artist: Esha Banerjee

Story of the Origin : It is said that there was once an orphan of Srikakulam who was raised by the village.  These kinAfter a time he returned to Srikakulam.  However, the village elders ordered him to go to his wife's house to assume his family responsibilities.  On the journey he came upon a river.  As he was swimming across the river he suddenly realised that he could swim no further.  He then prayed to God to give him the strength to make it across.  He did make it, and upon reaching the shore he vowed to become a sanyasi (renunciate) and devote his life to religious affairs.He then settled in the village of Kuchelapuram and started teaching.  Here, he instructed Brahman boys in devotional dance dramas based upon religious themes.  These religious plays were presented as offerings to God in the tradition of the Natya Shastra. Kuchipudi tradition believes that Tirtha Narayana Yati – a sanyassin of Advaita Vedanta persuasion and his disciple an orphan named Siddhendra  Yogi founded and systematized the modern version of Kuchipudi in the 17th century.d people had him married at childhood as was the custom of the time.  However, for his training he went to Udipi for Vedic studies.  During his study he acquired the name Sidhendra Yogi.  

Artist : Manju Warrior

Tradition of Kuchipuri :  A Kuchipudi performance traditionally is a night performance when rural families return from their farms and are free of their daily work. The Kuchipudi performance is led by a conductor (chief musician) called the Sutradhara or Nattuvanar, who typically keeps the beat using cymbals and also recites the musical syllables; the conductor may also sing out the story or spiritual message being enacted, or this may be a role of a separate vocalist or occasionally the dancer-actors themselves. Mridangam, Ghatam, Flute etcs are used commonly. The songs are woven in South Indian Taal lipi. The songs are generally in praise of Gods and Godessess and Kings. It is thoroughly influenced by Natyashrastra. It was mainly performed by male dancers dressed like female in the temples of the Tellingana and Andhra region. Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastri, Vempati Venkatanarayana Sastri and Chinta Venkataramayya. The nritya or expressive performance in Kuchipudi includes padams, varnams, shabdams and shlokas.   

Artist : Malabika Sen

King's Patronage : India has always been the land of amazing culture. All the deccan dynasties have encouraged the nourishment of this dance form. Kucchipuri dancers have stood as a pillar for showing the true immage of the society to the society. At times the dancers could even wield political and social power.  One example was a play-cum-social commentary performed in 1502.  It seems that a group of artists performed before Immadi Narasa Nayaka.  In this play, they indicated that the people were being unfairly treated by a local raja.  The dancers succeeded in freeing the people form the abusive practices of the raja, but the artists at one point even required the protection of the army.

Dress & Ornamentation : Georgeous dress and brillant ornamentation is a custom for Kuchipuri performances. Traditionally men would dress up like women and perform on stage. The female dancers wear dazing sarees or fitted dress with pleats (fans). The jewelerray includes neck pieces, bangles, armlets, anklets, ghongroos, earrings, noserings, waistbelt. The vedic tradition of symbolisim is follwed. The dancer wear the SUN and the MOON on head. The hair is tied in a knot and then pleated in beads. Extensive hairdo is a specialization of this dance. 

Noteable Dancers :Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastri, Vempati Venkatanarayana Sastri, Chinta Venkataramayya,Sheela Unnikrishnan,Malabika Sen

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