Kuchipudi

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This is Kuchipudi Dance Style

Kuchipudi is a very beautiful classical dance style from Andhra Pradesh in
India. Kuchipudi is only one of several types of classical Indian dance
forms. It was originated and propagated by a great man named Sidhendra
Yogi between the 14th and 15th century India. Its name stems from its origins
in the small south Indian village of Kuchipudi, which resides in the state of
Andhra Pradesh. Originally it was Kuchalapuri or Kuchelapuram. Kuchipudi
is not a mere dance form; but it is a combination of dance, gestures, speech,
song, and beautiful acting. A Kuchipudi dancer has to be well versed in
dancing, acting, music, mythological stories and characters, Sanskrit,
Telegu, and texts.
Kuchipudi, like Kathakali, is also a dance drama tradition. In recent
years, it has evolved as a solo dance for the concert platform and is
performed by women. However, like Kathakali, it was formerly performed by
men only. Men enacted the female roles. Even today, the tradition boasts
male dancers enacting female roles with such consummate artistry that
hardly anyone would notice them as male dancers.
In olden days, the beautiful dancing girls were dedicated to God.
They were called "deva dasis." They performed their items in temples only for
God. The temple activity was considered as a means of dedication.
In the time of Vijayanagar, the entire South India and part of Orissa
came under one rule and by this time the Bhakti movement had lost its
essence and the temples were the place of grandeur and celebration of events. The
dancing girls were more exhibitionistic in their presentation. The
devadasi system in the temple was living tradition until recently. Later, due to
factors like economic constraints, tantric practices and free sex enjoyed
by the patrons, priests, siddhas, and rajas. These dancers in the temple were
victimized to become public women. The term "devadasi", which was used in
the divine sense, was replaced by the term "bogasani" and dance and music
were used as a means of attracting clients.
According to tradition, only men who belonged to the Brahmin community
originally performed Kuchipudi dance. These Brahmin families were known as
"Bhagavatham." The very first group was formed in 1502 AD. The Nawab of
Golcanda, Abdul Hasan Qutabshah, bequeathed this village to formerly
Brahmin artists on 1678. Inscriptions on a copper plate commemorate this event.
There are references to Kuchipudi performances in the court of King Vera
Narsimha Raya from the Vijayanagar Kingdom between 1505-1509. The music is
in the Karnatic style and instruments include the mridangam drums, flute,
violin, cymbals, and veena. Sidhendra Yogi, a great saint and the father of Kuchipudi, started
teaching the Brahmin boys in Kuchipudi. He was the composer of
Bhamakalapam. He asked the Brahmin Boys that they play the role of Satyabhama, who was
Lord Krishna's wife, at least once in a lifetime. From that time onwards,
so many men of different castes played the role of Satyabhama.
This dance was composed on the basis of Natyasastra. In Kuchipudi,
there are so many beautiful items like Bhamakalapam, Gollakalapam, Dasavathara
Sabdam, Krishna Sabdam, Maduka Sabdam, Mandothari Sabdam, Sivathandvam,
Madhura Nagarilo. And most important the songs from Sri Krishna Leela
Tharangin, in which a dancer balances herself on the rim of a brass plate
and executes steps to the beat of a drum. At that time, she places a pot full
of water on her head and holds lighted candles on a plate while dancing on the
plate. It was composed by Sri Narayana Thirdha.
The Kuchipudi dance form combines dramatic facial expressions with graceful
hand and body movements to narrate a story. The stories usually focus on
the intricate mythology of Hinduism and embody certain general themes, such as
a Hindu god coming to annihilate evil doers (dustasikshana) to protect the
righteous (sishtarakshana). Since the dancer might portray several
personalities in a single dance, dramatic ability is just as important as
the technique of movement. A complete turn signifies a change in character.
With each turn, the dancer portrays the injured one, the evil one, the
avenging god, or any other significant characters of the tale. On the
other hand, the dance steps should be crisp and sharp, yet must appear
effortlessly flowing. Not only is Kuchipudi an art, but it serves the much greater
purpose of preserving a noble, ancient legacy and faith.