Kuchipudi
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A classical dance-drama of Andhra Pradesh, named after Kuchipudi village in Krishna district, that blends graceful dance, expressive acting and Carnatic music.
ClassicalWhere: Andhra Pradesh, from Kuchipudi village in Krishna districtOccasion: Temple festivals, stage recitals and dance-dramas
| Performed by | Traditionally troupes of Brahmin men who also played women's roles; today men and women, solo and in groups |
|---|---|
| Costume | Silk costume with a pleated fan in front, temple jewellery, a decorated plait, ankle bells and red alta on hands and feet |
| Music and instruments | Carnatic music with vocals, mridangam, violin, flute, veena and the nattuvangam (cymbals) that keep time |
How it is performed
- The performance opens with an invocation and the dancer's entry, often behind a hand-held curtain.
- Pure dance (nritta) passages show fast footwork, jumps and quick turns set to rhythmic syllables.
- Expressive passages (abhinaya) act out songs through hand gestures, eye movements and facial expression.
- Dance-dramas such as Bhama Kalapam, about Satyabhama, tell stories with dialogue, song and dance.
- In the tarangam, the dancer moves on the rim of a brass plate, sometimes balancing a pot of water on the head.
Significance
Kuchipudi is one of the classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. Tradition credits Siddhendra Yogi with shaping its dance-dramas, and it grew from a village theatre of devotion into a solo stage art performed worldwide.