Kuchipudi,
is one of the
nine classical dance forms of India. It borrowed its name from the village
Kuchipudi, a small hamlet in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, South India. A Saint named Siddhendra Yogi was instrumental in this form coming into
existence. Kuchipudi was traditionally performed by young men from nine Brahmin
families. Both the male and female roles were donned by them. Naatakeeyatha, or
the dramatic element is a distinctive characteristic of Kuchipudi, owing to its
roots in traditional theatrical genres. Kalapas, like the Bhamakalapam and
Gollakalapam, and Yakshaganas, like the Prahlada Natakam, Usha Parinayam and
others formed the repertoire of Kuchipudi until the early twentieth century.
Last century was a witness to many a transformation in this form. It was only in the 1930s that complete solo presentations in this idiom had begun. It was also during that period that members belonging to families other than the traditional ones were being initiated into the dance form. And this included women too. With the initiation of female artists into the form, many changes had come about in various aspects, ranging from the costume to the technique to the content.
From the late 1950’s, Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam has had a major influence on Kuchipudi. After moving to Chennai (formerly Madras), he started teaching a number of students, and this number runs into thousands. He choreographed many solo dances and dance dramas. The solo dances gained immense popularity since then. This form has traveled far and wide and has many takers in many nations today. Symbolized by graceful, rounded movements that flow from one into another, this form also demands from the artist a lot of mukhajabhinaya, which is expression through the face and its gestures.
Last century was a witness to many a transformation in this form. It was only in the 1930s that complete solo presentations in this idiom had begun. It was also during that period that members belonging to families other than the traditional ones were being initiated into the dance form. And this included women too. With the initiation of female artists into the form, many changes had come about in various aspects, ranging from the costume to the technique to the content.
From the late 1950’s, Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam has had a major influence on Kuchipudi. After moving to Chennai (formerly Madras), he started teaching a number of students, and this number runs into thousands. He choreographed many solo dances and dance dramas. The solo dances gained immense popularity since then. This form has traveled far and wide and has many takers in many nations today. Symbolized by graceful, rounded movements that flow from one into another, this form also demands from the artist a lot of mukhajabhinaya, which is expression through the face and its gestures.