Kuchipudi

 

 

Kuchipudi has its roots buried in the soil of Andhra Pradesh – India, and derives its name by the remote village where it was born. The kuchipudi style of dance was in the form of dance dramas, the main purpose being to inculcate divine ecstasy which invokes immortal bliss and brings one closer to the path of salvation. The themes were religious in nature and performed by groups of dancers who led a nomadic style of life. Sidhendra Yogi, an exceptionally gifted scholar and artist, who lived in the 14th century gave a definite form and purified this art.

 

 

In accordance with the imperative of classical dance, Kuchipudi is evenly balanced between the three aspects of dance: nritta, nrithya and natya without one element overshadowing another. Each and every kuchipudi performance is illustrative of this fact. The four aspects of abhinaya, i.e., Angika, Vachika, Aharya and Satvika are also to be found in ample measure in Kuchipudi style.

 

 

The movements in Kuchipudi are very graceful and scintillating and performed to classical Carnatic music. In the solo exposition Kuchipudi nritta numbers include Jatiswaram and Tillana whereas nritya has several lyrical compositions reflectiing the desire of a devotee to merge with God – symbolically the union of the soul with the super soul.

 

 

The Kuchipudi repertoire mainly consists of Koutwam, Sabdams, Jathiswarams, Tillanas, Padams, Javalis, Tarangam and Bhamakalapam. Taranagam is a special number in kuchipudi in which a dancer balances herself on the rim of a brass plate and executes steps to the beat of the percussion. Likewise Bhamakalapam is also very special number where the dancer enacts the role of satyabhama in which the proud and self-assured queen of lord Krishna goes through various stages of love.