One amongst India’s eight most famous and prolific dance forms is, Kuchipudi. Moreover, this dance style abundantly exhibits the profundity of the rich Indian culture and heritage. Interestingly, readers might get in an awe, on discovering the fact that the name Kuchipudi is derived or extended to the dance style from a small town in Andhra Pradesh. To unravel some interesting and less known facts about this dance form, keep reading and cherish the beauty of this wonderful dance form.
History of the classical Kuchipudi dancers of Andhra Pradesh
Kuchipudi thrived as a spectacular form of dance for hundreds of years. The rulers of the Deccan region supported this beautiful dance form in great esteem. Especially,Tana Shah in 1678 granted the lands around Kuchipudi to the Brahmins who danced.
Brahmins were at the top of the hierarchy of the Indian caste system. They were mainly teachers and intellectuals. Brahmins also believed to have come from Brahma’s head. They used to perform the Kuchipudi dance at festivals and other occasions. So priests were given huge admiration for their Knowledge and idiosyncrasy. As a result brahmin dancers exercised power and authority in political and social matters.
The Modern Kuchipudi acquired its present form in the 20th century.
Birthplace of earliest Kuchipudi dancers
Kuchipudi derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram located near Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh. Shri Siddhendra yogi is the father of the Kuchipudi dance form. He and other eminent scholars and artists have accrued their proficiencies and polishes the dance techniques of Kuchipudi. Thus, Kuchipudi has become an aesthetically pleasing dance form with its flexible movements and cohesive tale .
Shri Siddhendra Yogi pranganam kuchipudi Dancer
He was a phenomenal scholar and a great artist of the 14th century. The dance form of Kuchipudi saw a revolution during the Bhakti Movement in between the 11th and the 13th century.
He embraced the contemporary format of the Yakshagna folk dance dramas and bestowed it a fresh form. Siddhendra yogi combined the principles of the dance of the Natya Shastra and incorporated folk traditions and the classical forms.
He criticized the training of women Kuchipudi dancers because of his conviction that women dancers generally exaggerated their expressions and sentiments. Thus, distracting the audience from the core idea. Consequently, male dancers have dominated the Kuchipudi dance form so much that they even performed the female roles of the plays.
He also composed the famous play “Bhamakalpam”.This play accords with the Hindu God, Lord Krishna, and his companions Satyabhama and Rukmani.
Musical instruments for kuchipudi
The recital for Kuchipudi begins with an invocation in particular Ganesh Vandana number same as in other classical dances. Nritta is a non-narrative and abstract dancing used in Kuchipudi.
Kuchipudi dance is performed on Carnatic music. A typical south Indian musical orchestra for a Kuchipudi recital involves the mridangam, flute, and violin. Performed to classical Carnatic music, it shares various ordinary features in the same vein with Bharatnatyam.
Famous dancers of Kuchipudi
Raja, Radha, and Kaushalaya Reddy come first on the list of famous Kuchipudi dancers. They are responsible for earning Kuchipudi global recognition. They are honored with the third and the fourth highest civilian awards of India. With their dedication, courage, and passion they have taken Kuchipudi from a little village in India to Delhi, the commonwealth games, UK, Japan, Berlin, Austria, France, and the list continues.
What we see in films, concerts and theaters are not the real forms of Kuchipudi dance. As Several specific demands were placed on dancers. which impacted the spiritual tone of the Kuchipudi dancers. As a result It takes in variations.
The purpose of traditional dance forms, like all art forms, is to convey a message and present an idea for a particular purpose like celebrating life events, religious rituals, and other occasions reflecting cultures and traditions. Time has changed a lot of things. Most Importantly, dance has lost its real significance and dignity earlier attached to it. At present dance is more of a mean for entertainment than subject for various forms of arts. Creativity has seized its originality and true nature. But we still have hopes from Raja, Radha, and Kausalya Reddy who belong to the first family of the Kuchipudi dance forms. Fortunately, they are reviving, maintaining, and sustaining this traditional dance form and satisfactorily keeping its beautiful history imbibed.
Parting Words From Podium
This intriguing dance form is indeed one of such that one may wish to read on and on. Podium Blog acts a hub for more such fascinating dance forms. So, head towards Podium Blog to know more.
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