Kuchipudi

One of the classical dance forms of
India; some of the others are
Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Orissi,
Kathakali, and Manipuri. Like much of
traditional Indian culture, classical
dance shows strong regional identification; Kuchipudi is primarily found in
Andhra Pradesh. As with much of
Indian dance, Kuchipudi has its roots in
religious life. It was developed in the village of Kuchipudi as part of a religious
festival. The Maharaja of Golconda was
so pleased with the dance that he
awarded the village as a gift to the brahmin families there, with the condition
that they continue to nurture the art,
which their descendants have done.
Stylistically, the dance shows the influence of Bharatanatyam, and like all
Indian dance, it shows the well-developed
vocabulary of gesture that is drawn from
the classical manuals. At the same time,
the form is softer and less geometric
than Bharatanatyam, showing the
influence of folk traditions. The language for the dance-dramas is Telegu,
reflecting the local culture. As with all
classical dances, Kuchipudi has undergone certain changes in the past generation, spurred by the shift to stage
performance as the dance’s primary
venue. One of the most significant
376
Kshemaraja
changes has been to open the dance to
women. For further information see
Mohan Khokar, Traditions of Indian
Classical Dance, 1984.