Vanaja Dasika

Vanaja Dasika, neice of Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam is the second daughter of Dasika Jagannadha Rao and Vempati Savithri (younger sister of Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam).

Having been part of Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyamâ€s household, Vanaja, no wonder has become an accomplished Kuchipudi Classical dance performer, Choreographer, vocalist and a teacher of both music and dance.

Vanaja has done her Masters in Music from Madras University, where she has also done a thesis on music aspects of Kuchipudi dance form apart from holding a Bachelors degree in Economics.

She began dance training under the watchful and appreciative eyes of her Uncle, the legendary Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam from a very young age and has undergone intensive training in the sprawling Kuchipudi Arts Academy, Chennai. She had toured all the world along with Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyamâ€s entourage with the honour of performing key roles in most of the ballets and dance dramas of Kuchipudi Arts Academy, Chennai.

She has performed at major dance festivals, stages like Kennedy Center, Washington DC, USA, Paris Quartier Dâ€ete Festival, Indo-Australian Convention, Chennai, Music Academy, Chennai, Kuchipudi Mahotsav, Mumbai, Sangeeta Natak Academy, Mumbai, Surya Festival & Swati Tirunal Festival, Trivandrum, Chidambaram Festival, Siddhendra yogi Mahotsav, Kuchipuid, Dept of Culture, Hyderabad among others.

Vanaja learnt music from Guru Bhagavatula Sitarama Sarma at Kala Peetham, Chennai and quickly became proficient at it.

Vanaja Dasika, versatile dancer and singer.

Being a talented dancer and a trained musician, she became an integral part of almost of all the productions of Kuchipudi Arts Academy, Chennai. Her experience in being a vocalist for dance performance landed her various opportunities to accompany many a leading artists of the time and became one of the most sought after vocalist. This can be seen from the fact that she has provided lead vocal support in the prestigious Festivals like Konark & Khajuraho apart from having bagged recording projects from Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam and others.

She trains students in both dance and music and conducts workshops for providing insights to be a complete artist with her unique style of expression and teaching technique. Vanaja has been seen conducting workshops both in India and abroad over the years for both dancers and vocalists.

Vanaja Dasika

Among her choreographies, her creation based on the compositions of Samavedam Shunmukha Sarma called Sivapadam received wide acceptance and rapturous reviews.

Vanaja is a commendable performer, choreographer, teacher and one of the torch bearers of Kuchipudi Art form with a bent of mind to blend both tradition and innovation and appease to taste of purists and novices alike.

She sincerely believes that fine arts like dance and music are very much interrelated and it is very much imperative that a dance student should also necessarily gain adequate knowledge in music. This will help particularly Kudhipudi dancers where specific emphasis is given on vachika abhinayam and the additional knowledge of theory of dance and music will enable the students to appreciate traditional approach and easily improvise as per requirements.

Vanaja Dasika,

Canberra, Australia.

Email: vanaja716@yahoo.com

Guru Shri Chinta Adinarayana Sarma

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma born in Sharvana Poornami of Manmadhanamma Telegu calendar (02.08.1955) in Kuchipudi village to Chinta Radhakrishnamurthy and (Vallabha Joysula) Seethamahalakshmi is one of the revered Guru from the traditional Kuchipudi family.

Born in a family of six children (one elder & younger brother and three elder sisters), he started learning dance from his father at the age of four. He later learned Kuchipudi Yakshaganam from the great Guru Chinta Krishnamurthy, his fatherâ€s younger brother and Guru P V G Sarma.

During the same period, Guru Vedantam Parvateesam used to teach to all the young dancers in the temple at Kuchipudi, Chinta Krishnamurthy seeing Chinta Adinarayana Sarmaâ€s dance talent offered him to play the role of Prahalad in an Yakshaganam.

Soon after that Guru P V G Krishna Sarma had a Yakshaganam with all the child artists of the village, thus he made his first female personification role as Chitralekha in Usha parinayam.

In 1961, Banda Kanakalingeswara Rao and Mahankali Kameshwara Sarma, pleased with his performance in the Kuchipudi Yakshaganam – Dasavataram, presented him with a One Rupee coin.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma with his Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam

Those were the days when seeing the talent of the boys in the Kuchipudi village, the various Gurus vied with each other in teaching and transmitting their knowledge to the avid youngsters.

His performances in Kuchipuid Yakshaganam as a child artist were very much appreciated and in Srikakulam Guru PVG Krishna Sarma, looking at his performance presented him with a silver medal.

His portraying of Stree vesham which is one of the essential component of Kuchipudi Yakshaganam almost came to an end when during a performance in Avanigadda, there was an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction (his makeup prop for portraying female), leading Chinta Adinarayana Sarma to take a decision to stop enacting female personification.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma, saw in early 1960â€s Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam choreographed and directed ballet Ksheera Saagara Madhanam in which Vempati also performed as Lord Shiva. This particular event made telling impact on Chinta, appreciating the fresh and modern approach of Vempati Chinna Satyam. Chinta looked upto Vempati as his ideal icon in his dancing career in all aspects, right from the dance, choreography, direction, performance, work ethics, etc.

After completing Masters in Commerce, he landed a job in Guntur, but soon after, the inner urge to continue the work of the traditional families of Kuchipudi as against the general well being offered by a job ensured that he didnâ€t continue being in a job. In 1983, he took to rigorous training from Kuchipudi Kalakshetra for three years to be a Kuchipudi teacher. From then on his orientation has been more on teaching and choreography though he continued performing.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma (extreme left) learning from Vempati Chinna Satyam

Guru Sri Chinta Adinarayana Sarma explains about Kuchipudi Yakshaganam;

Chinta Adinaryana Sarma is known for his prolific contribution by way of excellent and unique choreographies. He worked within the boundaries of the tradition and improvised stage techniques as early as 1970â€s and 1980â€s using settings of ‘Surabhi†Drama, known for their magnificent settings.

The list of his choreographies includes:

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma (left) in Bhakta Prahlada

-Prahalada

-Usha Parniyam

-Sugreeva Vijayam

-Ramadoss Vijayam

-Girika parniyam from Vasu Charitra

-Sakuntala Dushyantham – With class eight students to commemorate the International Childrenâ€s year, well acclaimed.

-Varodhini parvaraakyam – Looking at this Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, remarked that ‘Chinta Adinarayana Sarma is following MY footsteps’.

-Natya hella

-Dhaniya Kailsam

-Shiva Geetha

-Shivapada Manjeera nadam

-Ugadi hella

–Sankranthi hella

-Swantara Jyoti

-Pillalu korina challani rajyam

-Anaganagaa oka adavi

-Palleturu pilla

-Godhavari

-Yerra gulabhi putindhi

-Ushodayam – birth of Christ depicted in an Hindu tradition dance form was a very challenging exercise.

-Jayajaya Durga – tarangam which is one of the most famous solo item.

–Sapthaswaralu & Movva –Message based dance drama to teach the artist as to how to live in harmony like the sapthaswaras. While sapthaswaras are independent when seen from isolation, but when together they cause miracles right from entertainment to curing ailments.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma (centre) in a Dance ballet

Under aegis of the Andhra Pradesh Cultural Affairs, two dance ballets, ‘Andhra Kala Vaibhavam†in 1998 and ‘Telugu Vaibhavam†in 2004, he has played important roles apart from his choreography. Both the works was performed at more than 65 places throughout the world.

‘Natya Visharadhaâ€, ‘Deva Parijathamâ€, ‘Natya Vigyan†are some of the awards and titles conferred upon him over the years.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma wants to revive the yesteryear classics of Kuchipudi Yakshaganam since all of them are path breaking classics and provide enlightenment to the modern era.

He has recently directed one of his principle disciple Lakshmi Bhavani, in an unique experiment wherein online teaching modules under the name Kuchipudi Natya Swaymabodhini has brought out. It shows his penchant for taking Kuchipudi dance form to the modern youth, a person who works tirelessly to preserve tradition yet not averse to using modern age leading edge technology in dance with clarity and vision.

Guru Sri Chinta Adinarayana Sarma teaching Sapta tala natakalu.

He started an institution for teaching dance, “Sri Radhakrishna Kuchipudi Natyalayam”. He worked for Telugu University for three year from 1989 and now he is Lecturer in Kuchipudi dance in Govt. College of Music and Dance, Hyderabad. While he has trained hundreds of students over the years, Chinta says that he is still looking that elusive master piece as his contribution for dance in both as student and choreography.

He is a very humble person; he avers that being part of Chinta family, Grace from God, blessings of Gurus and parents coupled with cooperation & sacrifice from his family has greatly helped him to become what he is today.

Chinta Adinarayana Sarma,

A 252, Phase-II,

Vanasthallipuram

HYDERABAD 500 070.

email:chinta.a.sarma@gmail.com

Mobile: +91 93903 55603

+91 98490 66619

Landline: 040 2006 1136

Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma

Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma is an academically well qualified, good performing artist, also an adept organizer is above all an youngster with a clear vision and self responsible member of the noted Tadepalli lineage of Kuchipudi village.

Born on August 28^th, Sarvana Suddha Padyami to Tadepalli Subba Rao & Late Munukutla Adilaxmi in Kuchipudi village. His great grandfather (paternal) Tadepalli Peraiya Sastry is Guru of Vemapti Chinna Satyam, and his grandfather (maternal) Munukuntla Viswanatha Sastry was Kanchipuram Asthana Ganapatti.

Till Peraiya Sastry, for almost 300 years history points that his family was primarily supporting accompanists (mridangam, nattuvangam and literature) for sampradhaya Bhagavathamelam families and contributing to dance from Sanksrit, Andhra basha and literature angle. From Peraiya Sastry, dance teaching and learning took primary seat in the family.

His paternal grandfather Tadepalli Chandraiah is famous for his Kuchipudi Pagateveshams and Kalapams. The environment set at home being that of dance throughout in all the acitivites, Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma took to Kuchipudi dance right from young age itself.

At the age of eight he started learning from Vedantam Radheshyam when he had the ritual both nose and ear piercing done, one of the primary requirement for donning stree vesham. Then he went on to learn the nuances of stree vesham from one of the experts, Padmasri Guru Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma. The influence of his friend Guru Vedantam Venkatanaga Chalapathi facilitated him to take interest on Kuchipudi Yakshaganam.

His other influence, Late Chinta Ramanathan was instrumental in Tadepalli taking up with keen interest / indepth approach in enriching his knowledge on dance and literature related aspects as his special interest.

He is a ‘Dwivedi†having become Gana patti of Krishna Yajur vedam and Moolam in Atharvana vedam. He has done his Bachelors in Oriental languages from Machlipatnam and Masters in Telugu literature from Venkateswara University, in Sanskrit from Kendriya Vidyapeeth, Tirupathi and Jyothishyam from Benares University. Presently he is pursuing for his Doctrate from Benares University on Temples and dance in relationship to the Vedas (why dance is called as Panchamavedam).

Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma is working at Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam as Veda pandit. He is also avidly involved in promoting, preserving and protecting Kuchipudi Yakshaganam being a principal Secretary of Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam organization started for the same purpose. The Bhagavathamelam essentially compromised of the dancers from the younger generation of the Kuchipudi traditional dance families who are torch bearers of the art form for centuries. This group is into self sustained efforts in learning the Kuchipudi Yakshaganams, documenting, promoting and taking steps to preserve for posterity with the responsible feeling of bearing the mantle of doing so being born in the rich cultural heritage families of Kuchipudi village.

While he has learnt all the roles of almost all the principal Kuchipudi Yakshaganams – as a tradition for all the artists of the Kuchipudi village – from parevesa daruvus to mangalam, he has played various roles which ideally suits the dancer. He has played various roles in Kuchipudi Yakshaganams, namely as Lord Shiva in Usha Parinayam, as Bhama in Bhama Kalapam, as Uthra Kumara in Sasirekha Parinayam, Basmasura in Mohini Basmasura among others.

Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma in Stree vesham

He has been conferred with the title “Natya Ratna”, “Abhinava Kala Sagara”. “Samanvaya Puraskar” and “Simha Talatam” by Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma for his dance, while the Seer of Kanchi Mutt, Jayachandra Saraswathi gave a Golden Bracelet for his proficiency in Vedas.

One other facet of Tadepalli, is his passion and soulful involvement in promoting heritage, parampara, dance, Sanathana darma by way of lecture demos targeting youth in colleges and universities throughout the country with a view to drive home the importance of ancient values and modern technology for a better and purposeful living.

TADEPALLI SATYANARAYAN SARMA,

Secretary, Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam

Kuchipudi Village

Movva Mandal

Krishna District

Andhra Pradesh

PIN 521 136.

Emal: tadepallisatyanarayanasarma@yahoo.com

tadepalli.bhagavathamelam@gmail.com

Mobile: +91 80084 42215.

+ 91 86712 52211

Sai Deepika Pasumarthi

Pasumarthi Sai Deepika, has a great lineage, born to Sri. Pasumarthi Seshababu, “Sangeetha Natyacharya”, a renowned Kuchipudi Classical Dancer by profession and one of the great exponent of Kuchipudi Yakshaganam and granddaughter of Kuchipudi Legend Sri Pasumarthi Venugopala Krishna Sarma.

She is trained in Kuchipudi dance by her illustrious father while she is also a well trained Vocalist of Carnatic music having learnt from Guru Sri Komanduri Seshadri.

Sai Deepika Pasumarthi

Sai Deepika has a Certificate in Carnatic music (Vocal) apart from having to her credit Diploma in Kuchipudi Yakshaganam apart from having finished her Masters in Kuchipudi dance from the University of Hyderabad.

Her multifarious talent is most sought after in the Kuchipudi Dance world and she has performed in many prestigious Festivals as an individual dancer and also part of eminent Kuchipudi artistâ€s performances like that Padmasri Dr. Shobha Naidu and Hamsa Awardee Smt. Swathy Somanath.

Sai Deepika Pasumarthi in "Ardhanariswaram"

Her portrayal of the following characters speaks volumes of her versatility:

• “Parvathi” in Shivapadam at Ravindra Bharathi — written by Samanvaya Saraswathi Brahmasri Samavedam Shanmukha Sarma garu and music and dance composed by my Father and Guru Sri. Pasumarthi Seshababu.
• “Sathyabhama” in Bhamakalapam at Shilparamam, Hyderabad.
• “Girija and Manmadha” in Girija Kalyanam (Parvathi Parinayam) at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad.
• “Sita” in Lava Kusa” Charitham (Kuchipudi Yakshaganam).
• “Leelavathi” in Bhakta Prahalada” (Kuchipudi Yakshaganam).
• “Gopika” in Gopila Krishna ballet.
• “Ardhanareeswaram”.

Some of her noteworthy performances with Padmasri Dr. Smt. Shobha Naidu are:

• Navarasa Natabhamini.
• Sarvam Sai Mayam.
• Rajarajeshwari Ashtakam.
• Kalyana Srinivasam.
• Many solo performances.

She has performed with Hamsa Awardee Smt. Swathy Somanath in:

• Draupadi.
• Sharanam Govindam.
• Kamasutra.
• Rasagopalam.
• Mahishasura Mardhini.
• Many solo performances.

Since her “Rangapravesam” on July 12^th 2007, she has performed in many a prestigious national Festivals which includes Nimapara Festival (Odissa), Tanisha youth festival (Kuchipudi village), Dasara (Puttaparthi).

Sai Deepika is also an accredited dancer with Doordarshan and an empanelled artiste of IWCF (Indian World Cultural Forum). Part of the traditional Kuchipudi dance families, even at such an young age she has specialized in Choreography and Nattuvangam and won many a laurels and titles.

Her titles include:

• “Nrutya Kowmudhi” from Abhinaya Nrutya Bharati, Eluru (2009).
• “Natya Kowstubha” from Bingi Malleswari Memorial Trust (2010).
• “Nrutya Bhushan” from Bhilainagar, Kalibari, Chatthisgarh (2011).

Contact Details

Sai Deepika Pasumarthi
D/O Sri Seshababu Pasumarthi

H. No. 18-506/1, Mallikarjuna Nagar,

Street No. 8, Malkagiri,

Hyderabad – 500 047

Andhra Pradesh, India

Mobile: +91 81791 43703

Landline: 040 2705 7747

Email: pasumathi.artistap@gmail.com,

Nagalakshmi Bhagavatula

Nagalakshmi Bhagavatula is a native of the Kuchipudi Village, Krishna District Andhra Pradesh born to Bhagavatula Haranath and Yarasi Sukanya.

Nagalakshmi, is a law graduate from Indian Law Society, Pune and is currently working in the Legal Department of a leading software firm. She will be pursuing Masters in Law from the University of Pennsylvania, USA starting July 2014.

A rare blend of both an accomplished versatile dancer and a successful professional career. She is very dedicated and has a purposeful approach when it comes to performing and propagating Kuchipudi art form a quality imbibed from the Kuchipudi traditional family who have been the torch bearers of the art form for centuries.

She started learning dance at the tender age of 4 under her Guru Patnam Siva Prasad and performed her ‘Arangetram†at Kuchipudi in the temple of Balatripurasundari as early as March 1995. She has given more than 600 performances since then.

Nagalakshimi, is a law graduate from Indian Law Society, Pune and is currently working in the Legal Department of a leading software firm apart from pursuing Masters in Law.

Apart from being a performer par excellence she has also started Purna Mudra Class of Kuchipudi Dance in Hyderabad in July 2013 with a view to propagate the art form.

Some of her Performances

Nagalakshmi performing at Cochin 2014

– International Kuchipudi Dance Convention held at Cupertino, California, June2008.
– Part of the team of 318 dancers who a created a world record for the Worldâ€s largest Kuchipudi dance event recorded in the GUINNESS Book of World Record.
– TANA conference at Chicago in July 1995.
– Event at Greater Indianapolis Telugu Association, Indiana, USA.
– Tiroochanoor and Tirumala Bramhotsavas, October 2008.
– Lord Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburg, USA.
– Birthday celebrations of Sri Satya Sai Baba, Puttaparthy organsied by AP cultural committee.
– Dance and Music Festival organized by Andhra Music Academy.
– German Delegates Conference, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad.
– Raghavendra Swamy Aradhanotsavam, Mantralayam.
– Vedadhyana Kendram Vedic Festival, Bangalore.
– Andhra Association Ugadi Celebrations, Pune.
– “Chittor Nagayya Puraskaram Celebrations”, Chennai.
– World Dance Day Celebrations, May 2013 Bangalore.
– 199th Monthly programme organized by Radha Madhava Rasaranjani, Guntur in March 2013.
– Brahmotsavam Celebrations October 2012 organized by Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam, Tirupathi.
– International Kuchipudi Dance Festival – May 2012, Hyderabad.
– Internation Dance Day Celebrations, Bangalore 2013.
– Inaugural Kalakar Utsav at Bangalore, April 2014.
– National Symposium, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad – 2014
– Naatya Kousthubh Nrithyotsav. Cochin – 2014

Places of performances

– Chicago, Indianapolis, Pittsburg, Ohio, California in US.
– Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Tirupathi, Mantralayam, Kuchipudi, Vishakapatnam, Guntur, Guntakal, Kadiri, Guntur, Puttaparthy, Anantapur & Cochin.

Nagalakshmi (right) as 'Satyabhama' in the dance drama 'Sri Krishna Parijatham'

Awards
– Won 9 national prizes in All India Competitions organized by Navya Nataka Samithi, Hyderabad from 1995 to 2005.
– Won 2 national prizes along with Natya Mayuri award in All India Competitions organized by Kalanilayam,Chilkaluripeta.
– Won 2 first prizes and Nrutya Kala Mani title in All India Competitions organized by Samskara Bharathi on the occasion of 50 years of Indian Independence.
– Won around 25 prizes in various state level competitions.

Titles

• Natya Mayuri (Kalanikethan, Chilakaluripeta, AP),
• Nrutya Kala Mani (Samskara Bharathi, Hyderabad),
• Natya Lakshmi (Greater Indianapolis Telugu Association, USA),
• Nrutya Manjari (Telugu Association of Central Ohio, USA),
• Ananta Aanimutyam (Sahithi Gagan Mahal Trust, Penukonda, AP),
• Nrutya Kowmudhi (Abhinaya Nrutya Bharathi, Eluru, AP)
• Naatya Druma (Naatya Kousthubh Dance Festival, Cochin

http://youtu.be/PneiWoT9AjE

Appreciation and Honors:
Received appreciation letters from Padmabhushan Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam,
Mr & Mrs.Dhanunjayan (Bharatanatyam dancers), Vedhadyana Kedram,Bangalore and Vedantam Radheshyam, Kuchipudi

Contact Details
nagalakshmi29@gmail.com

Tadepalli Saikrishna

Tadepalli Saikrishna born on August 12^th, to Tadepalli Suryanarayana Murthy and Rajeswari in Kuchipudi village is uniquely blessed to be born into an illustrious family of Tadepalli Peraiya Sastry and Vempati Venkatanarayana, one of the Kuchipudi Trios.

Sai, started his tutelage at the age of Five years Five months Fifth day under Vedantam Radheshyam as his wont for the members of the traditional Kuchipudi families. Later he continued to learn the art of Kuchipudi under Padmasri Dr. Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma.

Under the guidance of his main inspiration, his elder brother Tadepalli Satyanarayana Sarma, he has finished Certificate course in Kuchipudi from Siddhendra Kalakshetra, Kuchipudi. He has done bachelors in commerce and currently pursuing Masters.

Tadepalli Saikrishna as Lord Shiva

Currently he is being groomed by Dr. Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry, Vedantam Venkatanagachalapathy, Chinta Ravibalakrishna in performing various challenging characters including female personification roles like Sakhi, Vethrahasta, Parvathi, Chitralekha, Ministers of Kingdoms, Rakshasas (Demons), Lord Krishna, Lord Shiva, etc in Kuchipudi Yakshaganams and Kalapams performed by Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam.

Tadepalli Saikrishna as Goddess Parvathi in Kuchipudi Yakshaganam

He has performed in various prestigious Festivals and events like Tirumala Brahmasotav, Sangita Natak Academy, Endowments program, Silicon Andhra Guinness Records events, Akila Bharatha Kuchipudi Natya Kala Mandali Utsav, Siddhendra Yogi Festivals at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Ujjain, Agra among others.

Being part of the Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam, he is very active and skilled when it comes to event management and conducting Festivals at Kuchipudi and other places.

Tadepalli Saikrishna as Minister in Kuchipudi Yakshaganam

He is sincerely involved in initiatives of the Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam when it comes to propagating, preserving and protecting the art form as a responsible member following the ideals of the torch bearers†family of the Kuchipudi art form.

TADEPALLI SAIKRISHNA,

Member, Kuchipudi Bhagavathamelam

Kuchipudi Village

Movva Mandal

Krishna District

Andhra Pradesh

PIN 521 136.

Email: saikrishna.kuchipudi@gmail.com

Mobile: +91 99669 50077.

Yanamandra Sunanda Prashanth

Yanamandra Sunanda Prashanth, born on 16^th June 1989, was initiated into dance by her grandfather Sri Pasumarthy Krishnamurthy, a stalwart from the Traditional families of Kuchipudi. Sri Pasumarthy Krishnamurthy, grandson and disciple of Sri Chinta Venkatramiah garu, was cine dance director. With the constant support of her family, she has been able to pursue her passion in dance. She was professionally trained in Kuchipudi dance from the tender age of 9 years under the tutelage of Sri Pasumarthy Vithal and Smt. Bharathi.

Sri Vithal and Smt. Bharathi belonging to the Traditiaonal Kuchipudi family have trained her for 10 years right from basics in dance. She started to give a professional form of her dance under the expert guidance of her Guru Dr. K. Uma Rama Rao at Hyderabad. She is currently taking dance and academic trainig under Smt. Sudha Sridhar of Nartana Academy, Bangalore.

Sunanda Arangetram

Sunanda, an MSc in International Business from University of Leeds, UK gave her first stage performance on Sri Rama Navami at Sri Rama Mandir, Janakpuri at New Delhi in 2001. She presented her Arangetram at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad, on April 3^rd, 2009, which was well received. She has been fortunate to perform at various dance festivals like Delhi Tourism, Purana Quila, New Delhi, Music College at Vijayawada, Siddhendra Yogi Dance Festival 2012 at Kuchipudi village, World Telugu Conference, December 2012 at Tirupati, Mysore Dussehra Festival on September 25^th 2014, Naada Neerajanam in Tirumala and Koti Deepotsavam event conducted by Bhakti TV. Her recent performances among others, include Cuttack International Dance and Music Festival 2015, Rani Abakka Dance Festival 2015 at Mangalore, World Dance Day May 2015, Kuchipudi Vaibhavam – Telugu Federation, Nellore.

For Sunanda, who was recently conferred the National Nritya Shiromani award, Kuchipudi dance is an inheritance, tradtion, passion, profession and a promise to continue the tradition of Kuchipudi classical dance inspired by her grandfather Guru Sri Pasumarthy Krishnamurthy, a role model from childhood. In her pursuit, she is fortunate to be supported by her family and is keen and dedicated to humbly contribute her mite to take the art form to greater heights .

Contact Address:

1195, Brig. Gokhale Road

BEML Layout, 3^rd stage

Raja Rajeswari Nagar

Bangalore 560098

eMail: sunanda.kolluri@gmail.com

Mobile No. +91 99002 11168

Chinta Sitaramanajaneeyulu the “Yakshagana Sarwabhowma”.

Chinta Sitaramanjaneyulu

Chinta Sitaramanajaneeyulu, was born in the Telugu year Dundubhi Nama Samvatsaram (1922), Bhadrapada Shudda Ashtami day to Chinta Narayanamurthy and Bhagavathula Sitamma at Kuchipudi village in one of the most illustrious traditional families of Kuchipudi art form.

He is the youngest of the family and had four brothers, Chinta Adinarayana, Chinta Radhakrishnamurthy, Chinta Venkateswarulu (adopted by Darbha family) and Chinta Venkatarathnam and two elder sisters, Jyothi Bhagavatula and Bullama.

Kuchipudi Yakshagana Legend Chinta Sitaramanjaneyulu at a concert

His formal education is only upto fifth grade and in his eighth year the legendary ‘Kuchipudi Yakshagana Pittamaha†Chinta Venkatramayya his fatherâ€s elder brother started his formal dance training after performing a puja at the temple. It was indeed a very fortunate auspicious start with the blessings of one of the trinity of Kuchipudi that has stood in good stead for Chinta. He learnt the art form from his father and also from his two elder brothers Chinta Adinarayana and Chinta Radhakrishnamurthy.

He continued his dance training from Vedantam Parvetsam and Vempati Venkatanarayana in his teenage years. His first performance was as early as in his 11^th year in the famous Chinta Vari melam as Prahalad in the Kuchipudi Yakshaganam ‘Bhakta Prahaladâ€. He was good at essaying female personification roles too in the Kuchipudi Yakshaganams. He showed special interest in Ashtapadi, Javali and Tarangas too under the guidance of his elders and also learnt Nattuvangam and vocal music.

Chinta Sitamananjaneylu abinaya

Chinta Sitaramanjaneeylu is adept in translating his God given gift as an artist and the boon to have been at a time when the Gurukul system delivered a complete artist. He has acquired the Sastra parigynan from his fatherâ€s elders brothers, Chinta Venkatramayya and Krishnaiah, and nuances on dance, music, Kuchipudi Yakshaganam, history of the art form, samskrita rupakam from his Gurus during the training period as part of his grooming.

Having being bestowed with the opportunity to learn from the best in Gurukul system, Sitaramanajaneeyulu performed varied challenging roles with aplomb and passed on the same diligently to the next generation whole heartedly.

He moved to Gudivada town in Krishna district to teach dance in the Kuchipudi Kalakshetra. Chinta married Jonnalgadda Bharathilakshmi from Moova Kodali village in the year 1949.

He comes across as a very tranquil, peaceful artist who has achieved a lot but yet having enormous ‘Guru Bhakthi†a rarity these days and stands before us a role model, simple but colossal giant as a versatile artist, sincere Guru, a very passionate lover of dance and above all a very grateful person who had a fulfilling journey in Kuchipudi art form.

In the process, his deep understanding of the art form Kuchipudi and ways and means to reach out a wider spectrum of dance practitioners and audience for over five active decades bears testimony to his love, dedication and commitment to the art form.

The list of characters portrayed by him in Kuchipudi Yakshaganams, kalapams touring far and wide with Chinta Venkatramaiahâ€s ‘Chinta vari melam†speaks volumes of his ability to adapt to different roles including that of female personification roles for which he was honoured with title, “Siddendra Nartana Puraskar”, from “Kuchipudi nruthya bharathi” and awarded “Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma Smarak Puraskar.”

Female personification roles unique to Kuchipudi Yakshaganam was one of his forte and he is known for his portrayal of Usha in ‘Usha Parinayam†, Leelavathi in ‘Prahaladaâ€, Chitralekha in ‘Gayopakhyanamâ€, Mohini in ‘Mohini-Rukmangadhaâ€, Satyabhama in ‘Bhama Kalapam†and the milk maid in ‘Golla Kalapamâ€

The repertoire he has worked out over the years is remarkable and his choreographies, dance dramas bear a unique style which he acquired over a period of time. He lays great stress on Satvika abhinaya while giving Nritta its due importance in his choreographies. He has produced some well appreciated dance drams like “Sagarasoudham” (History of Nagarjuna sagar), Bhakta-Kannappa, Bheeshma pratigna, Mana Bharatam-Maha Bharatam and SvatantrodyamaSamvakaram with imagination and deep understanding of how the dance-dramas should be presented for the contemporary audience without diluting the classical style.

He has three daughters and two sons and he was very liberal in his approach to life. He never forced the art form on any of his children. The first son didnâ€t show any interest in arts and he left him alone while his second daughter Seethalakshmi was very much interested and so he taught her at time when no girls from the traditional families where into dance per se. As a person with modern outlook he also encouraged his daughter Seetha to take up the art form seriously and sensing the great Yagna that Kuchipudi Legend Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam undertook to spread the art form worldwide, Chinta dedicated whole heartedly his youngest son Chinta Siva Adinarayana who was interested in learning the art form, for the great work. Chinta Sitaramanjaneeylu is always for knowledge sharing and he did constantly encourage the younger generation to learn the art form in the traditional unadulterated system.

The details of his family are as follows:

– His first son, Kasi Viswanathan Sastr worked with AP Electric Board got married to Pasumarthy Subbulakshmi from the Kuchipudi traditional family and they have one son and one daughter.

– His first daughter Madhumati married Bhagavatula Ramasubramanian from the traditional family and they have one son and one daughter who is being trained by Chinta is into performance too.

– His second daughter Seetharatham who learnt dance from him got married to V Viswanatham and they have one son Sai Kiran and one daughter Nagalakshmi.

– His third daughter Umarani is married to Nagaraj and they have one son.

– His second son Siva Adinarayana who is his disciple and also got guidance of Vempati Chinna Satyam, married to Tulasipriya and they have one son.

Chinta Ramanajnayeelu receiving Sangita Natak Akademi award from the President of India

Chinta Sitaramanajaneeyuluâ€s contribution to Kuchipudi art form primarily in Kuchipudi, Gudivada and Nagarjuna sagar is well perceivable and appreciated. Chinta Sitaramanajaneeyulu a Sangita Nataka Akademi awardee is popularly known as “Yakshagana Sarwabhowma”.

Chinta Sitaramanjayanelu

Kuchipudi Dance Guru

Door Number 17/663

Near KTR Womenâ€s College

Choudary peta

GUDIVADA 521 301

Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.

Contact: +91 94277 72260.

Vempati Ravi Shankar hailing from one of the most revered traditional families of Kuchipudi namely the ‘Vempati†had the enviable responsibility of not only having to live up to the expectations of upholding the rich tradition but also earn the respect and reverence of the entire Kuchipudi fraternity. The exemplary dance journey of Vempati Ravi Shankar saw the emergence of a colossal Legend at a relatively very young age.

Raviâ€s dance journey was anything but easy and was fraught with spirit debilitating challenges – physically, financially, emotionally, leading to a rapidly deteriorating quality of life. But that he not only withstood all the obstacles but bounced back to lead relatively normal life in the circumstances without succumbing to the easy option of self pity and desolation, speaks volumes of the spirit behind the legendary nature that Ravi was made up of.

Vempati Ravi Shankar was born to the Kuchipudi Legend Padmabhushan Dr. VempatiChinna Satyam and Swarajyalakshmi at Chennai on 11^th October, 1969 among a family of five children (three daughters -Kameshwari, Katyananniand Balatirupurasundaritwo sons – Vempati Venkat).

Having grown up in the environs of the Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai one would think that he would have all but naturally got initiated to dance directly by his illustrious father, but the most oft repeated story of how he was initiated to dance by one of the senior student of the Academy SmtBalaKondalaRao who used to assist Vempati Master in conducting classes when he was on tours and how it took long time for Guru Vempati to realize the dancing flair of his youngest son makes an evergreen interesting reading. Once he was spotted by his father and taken to his fold the laurels and recognition came his way all but naturally. His first performance as said in his own words in an interview is an interesting read:

As my first dance program, I did SrinivasaKalyanam. I did the calf part. In that, I did the back side, not even the front. So, many of my relatives after seeing the program asked me, “Hey,what did you do?” I had to tell them that I did the backside of the calf. After that, slowly I started doing rishi characters. After that pramadaganas, then soliders, then the sukha yogi character. After that there were no other characters. Then I did Shivaâ€s character and stabilized in that way. I am very lucky that way. I have become experienced in all of these years by doing different kinds characters. I understand the characterâ€s values. Thatâ€s why, whenever I do anything it comes easily to me. That experience is very great. Some people think that they should do big characters first. But you wonâ€t get experience that way.

It is to be observed here that in the Academy Vempati Master used to give roles based on the strength of the artists and would offer the major roles only after one gets ready for it. Lead roles like Shiva which was being donned by senior students like Manju Bhargavi and Balaakka, it was offered to Ravi Shankar only after he was made ready for it and not because of being part of the family. After that there was no looking back and he was essential part of all the ballets of the Academy and travelled widely both pan India and abroad with the group.

Ravi performed leading male role of almost all of Vempati Chinna Satyams productions, including Shiva in Haravilasam and Ardhanareeswaram, Rama in Ramayanam, Dusyanta in AbhignyanaShakuntalam, and Arjuna in KirataArjuneeyam. Raviâ€s status as one of the most experienced disciple of Guru Vempati is undoubtedly attributable to his performance as Shiva in KsheeraSagaraMadhanam, Haravilasam and Ardhanareeswaram. The later dance drama is particularly significant because Guru Vempati composed keeping his son in mind to play the lead role of Shiva Ardhanareeswara. Raviâ€s skillfulness is evident in the penultimate item of the dance drama in which he dons the costume of Ardhanareeswara, and simultaneously represents the grace of Parvati and vigor of Shiva by nimbly shifting a black veil from one half of his body to the other.

Ravi has performed, as a soloist for the famous Khajuraho Festival, Konark festival, the dance festivals conducted by SangeetNatakAkademi, ICCR New Delhi and Chidambaram Natyanjali, Surya Festival in Kerala, SwathiTirunal Festival in Kerala, as well as festivals in New Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc.

At the International level, he was part of the prestigious Avignon Festival, Euro Festival in France and Netherlands and he has performed many times in the Kennedy Centre, Washington DC. Ravi had performed exhaustively abroad in USA, Russia, Canada, European countries like Germany, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, New Zealand and Gulf countries and earned glorious tributes.

With his first own dance piece choreographed at the age of 12, Ravi have many choreographies to his credit. He has composed over 80 solo items, 3 major dance dramas, (Nava Durga, Ramana Katha (the story of Sri RamanaMaharshi, and Sri LeelaGanapathy), and 3 thematic dance productions (Andhra Kala Vilasam ,VisweswaraVijayam, and BhavayamiRaghuramam). His production Ramana Katha,( which premiered in Bangalore, India in 2007) and Sri LeelaGanapathy (which premiered in Chennai at the Music Academy in 2009), were well received by artists and art connoisseurs alike.

The forte of Ravi Shankar is always referred for the fluidity of his movements. His body transitions so seamlessly from one movement to the next that the witnessing audience member is uncertain as to when one movement ends and the next begins.

One can feel in all his contribution to dance, his zeal and whole hearted effort with an ever existing inner thirst for a neat and perfect composition, choreography, involving indepth understanding and in the process it would look that he would travel back to that particular time zone and immersed himself in his choreography, characterization and portrayal of events and essence of the glorious culture and heritage of our country.

Vempati Ravi Shankar can be considered as the embodiment of grace, and therefore stands in a league of his own within the art form of Kuchipudi. More than that he is always referred as a complete artiste, for he is not only a choreographer, but also referred to as an accomplished writer, music composer and a great musician.

One of the few to establish the art form in its purest form, he had a major influence of his fatherâ€s brother VempatiPedda Satyam. Each of his choreography had a uniqueness and variety to it. If he sees once that is enough he would learn it being an ekasanthagrahi – a very creative artist and keen eye for the nuances of the art form.. He had an uncanny capacity to teach in very quick time yet very detailed in approach enabling the other artists to grasp the choreography in a very short time so that they can perform almost instantaneously once he completes teaching. He had good grip of the subject and would enumerate the availability of nuances of all the classical art forms in Kuchipudi since Kuchipudi follows all the essential elements that is spelled out in various important dance texts.

Ravi was a complete artist. He was adept at dancing, could don any roles and perform with ease and natural grace and set the stage on fire every time he performed. His choreography skills was wonderfully magnificent and his love for music could be seen from the various compositions he has made and he was a very good lyricist too a born vaggeyakara so to say. Though his base in music was strengthened being disciple of the Music maestro, M Balamuralikrishna, he showed keen interest in music well before that and learned observing the musicians who worked with his father in the academy like Sangeetha Rao, LokanathaSarma, Prakash Rao and BhagavatulaSeetharamaSarma He was stickler for exhaustive practice to make one perfect and he is known for indepth knowledge of talas.

Awards

The quality of his work and sincerity in his approach earned him respect and reverence from all quarters. He was conferred the state title ‘Kala Ratna†by the state of Andhra Pradesh, Natyakala Surya award in Chennai, the Siddhendra Puraskar from Kerala, and the best male dancer award in the Natyakala Conference from Krishna Gana Sabha Chennai, Vempati Pedda Satyam award from Kuchipudi.

Though his work definitely demands much more recognition, Ravi has never being one to go for awards and rewards. He took solace with his involvement in the art form in different dimensions all through his life

One can see that he came to the karma bhoomi for the sake of art and his handsome contribution to art form inspite of his failing health is an encouragement and example for and one all.