Kuchipudi is a classical Indian dance that originated in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, tracing back to the village of Kuchipudi, and involves storytelling through hand gestures and facial expressions that depict emotions and themes from Hindu scriptures like the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Key elements of Kuchipudi include elegant dance movements, costumes featuring sarees and jewelry, traditional music instruments, and themes centered around devotion to deities like Krishna through dance dramas once performed only by men but now commonly by women as well.

2. o Kuchipudi is pronounced as 'Koochipoodi' is a Classical
Indian dance originated in Andhra Pradesh, India.
o Origin of the name Kuchipudi is taken from name of a
village in the Divi Tehsil of Krishna district that borders
the Bay of Bengal.
o The resident Brahmins were practicing this traditional
dance form, and it acquired the present name.
o According to facts Siddhendra Yogi first developed a
unique and particular style of kuchipudi based on the
Natya Shastra.

3. o kuchipudi dance style, like many other classical dance forms,
was initially presented at temples and was performed by the
Brahmin men.
o The first documented evidence of Kuchipudi male dancers’
performance was recorded in 1502 A.D. where they performed
in front of Veeranarasimha Rayalu of Vijayanagara Empire and
depicted the misdeeds and corrupt rule of Sammeta
Guravaraju, Siddavatam ruler.
o Another evidence shows that the Nawab of Golconda, Habul
Hussan Qutub Tanisha, fond of the performance of kuchipudi,
gifted the village of Kuchipudi and made it a cultural center to
pursue the art with peace and harmony. Even today, artists and
scholars living there continue the age-old tradition and pass the
knowledge to present and future generations.

4. o Looking at the type of dance movements, costumes,
and physically the location of its origin one can say that
Kuchipudi is a blend of Odisi (a dance form of Orissa)
and Bharatnatyam (a dance form of Tamil Nadu).
o Kuchipudi is famous for its extremely elegant
movements and its very strong descriptive and dramatic
character narration.

5. o These dance dramas were mostly performed as an
offering to lord Krishna mostly. All these dances were
performed by men who could play the roles of both
men and women as performers.
o Initially, it was performed for lord Krishna, but with
passage of time the dance form was even performed for
Lord Shiva. This started happening by the end of the
18th century.

6. o In the early 1900s, after Siddhendra Yogi another towering
figure in Kuchipudi - Vedantam Lakshminarayana Shastri -
once again changed the stylistic direction of dance form.
o He moved from the little village of Kuchipudi, the birth
place of this art form, to the larger metropolis of Madras
(now Chennai), a major centre for art and culture in India.
His talent and brilliance was immediately recognized.
o He introduced women to Kuchipudi and choreographed
several solo dances, which have become part of the
Kuchipudi today.

7. o Thus, Kuchipudi has under gone a number of changes and today
surprisingly women are the ones who have finally mastered this
dance form better than men.
o Kuchipudi dance groups today are broadly classified in to two
groups.
Natyamelamu consists of a group of actors (males) performing Kuchipudi dance
drama.
Nattuvamelamu is a tradition of dance performed by woman artistes. This
tradition had two sections, those who performed at the royal courts and those
who performed in temples.
oInitially, as we know it, Kuchipudi was just a form of temple dance
but now with passage of time it has finally become one of the most
well known performing arts in the whole of our country.

8. o The Kuchipudi is a dance-drama of Nritta, Nritya and Natya.
oThe Nritta consists of theermanams and jatis.
Nritta encompasses steps and movements in the form of
patterns of dance which, though decorated in them, have no
meaning to convey.
o The Nritya consists of Sabdams.
o The Natya consists of acting with mudras for the songs.

9. oKuchipudi is based on natya shastra covers as many and
diverse aspects such as:
o MUSIC (raga, tala, sruti, and instrumental knowledge).
oSTAGE-DESIGN (mandapa).
oDANCE (rules & classification of dances, acting, expression
of bhava, eight kinds of rasas, choreography, and direction).
o MAKEUP, and virtually every aspect of the STAGECRAFT.

10. o The whole dance follow the navrasas theory to show the
expressions and convey their moods.
oThese are:
oShringara (love and beauty).
oHasya (joy or mirth).
oBhibatsya (disgust).
oRowdra (anger and its forms).
oShanta (serenity and peace).
oVeera (heroism).
oBhaya (fear).
oKaruna (grief and compassion).
oAdbhuta (wonder and curiosity).

11. o DARU: it is a small composition of dance and song specially
designed for each character to help the artist reveal his or
her identity and also to show the performer's skill in the art.
oThere are nearly 80 darus or dance sequences in a
traditional Kuchipudi dance drama.
o KALAPAS: it has a few characters with theme revolving
around a single incident or a character.
oYAKSHAGANAS: are dance forms evolved from more ancient
tradition. This form of dance involves more characters, and
gives a more dramatic essence to the dance.

12. o Some of dance which is practiced today in kuchipudi are:
Purvaranga,
Tandava Nritya kari Gajanana or Vinayaka Kautham
Bhamakalapam,
Satya Bhama,
Bhakta Phrahalda,
Usha Parinayam,
Sasirekha Parinayam,
Rama Natakam,
Gollakalapam,
Gollabhama,
Tarangam,

13. o Field of expertise: Kuchipudi and
Bharatnatyam dancer.
o Born on April 5, 1954 at Ahmedabad.
o Daughter of classical dancer Mrinalini
Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram
Sarabhai.
o She started to learn dancing at a very
young age and also acted in parallel
cinema. She played the role of
Draupadi in Peter Brook’s movie ‘The
Mahabharata’.
o She studied at St. Xaviers College in
Ahmedabad and later on did MBA and
doctorate from IIM Ahmedabad

14. o Field of expertise: Kuchipudi Dance
Choreographer, Guru, Dance
Therapist, Organizer and Researcher.
o Born on January 1, 1960 at Bangalore.
o With her early training at the age of
six in Bharatanatyam and later
specializing in Kuchipudi and temple
ritual dances.
o She has done B.Com.
o She has performed in India and abroad
in Singapore, Korea, Italy, Germany,
Switzerland, UK, Spain and Africa.
o Honours/Awards/Fellowships:
kalashree, arya bhatta award,
vocation excellence award,
research fellowship (govt. of india,
new delhi)

15. o The kuchipudi dance makeup should have a graceful
look and must be suitable for stage light.
oMakeup must suit dancers with fair and dark skin colors.
oThe important characters have their makeup different
from the others. The makeup used in this dance is not so
heavy. The list of items required for the makeup of this
dance form are: Altha, sindur, kumkum, bindi (preferably
maroon color ), black eye liner, eye shadow, facial powder
and foundation whose color should be lighter than the
character’s skin color.

17. Steps of application :
oFirstly oil- free moisturizer is applied then a light coat of
facial powder is followed by a thick coat of foundation.
o Over the foundation again a coat of facial powder is
applied followed by blush. On the nose especially on the
sides dark foundation is applied.
oThen the outline of both the eyes is drawn using black
eye liner. The ends of the outline are curved so that the
eye looks like a lotus petal.
oThen appropriate color lipstick is used with some gloss.
At last put the maroon color bindi in the middle of your
forehead.

18. oThe Kuchpudi costumes look similar to Bharatnatyam
costumes.
oOnly difference is the Katcham that comes at the back of
a kuchipudi costume.
oA long pleat in the centre with a border and a black
katcham with a side small fan makes a typical kuchipudi
style costumes.
oCross pleat costume: Cross pleats are used for both
Bharatnatyam and kuchipudi. This pattern is mainly for
male dancers. This cross fan costumes can be used for
devotional characters like Muruga & Krishna.

19. oTYPES OF SAREES FOR A KUCHIPUDI COSTUME:
1. Kanchipuram silk saree- The kanchipuram silk saree is
hand-woven. It is made of dyed silk with zari works.
Kanchipuram sarees are expensive than other types of silk
available in south India. Kanchipuam sarees are stronger
than Dhamavaram or Arani silks generally.
2. Dharmavaram silk saree- In many others places also,
silk sarees are produced, they are Dhramavaram, Arni,
Salem, & Tribhvanam. Even though these sarees are good
in quality, kanchpuram is the best.

20. oTYPES OF SAREES FOR A KUCHIPUDI COSTUME:
3. Semi silk saree – costumes are also made of semi silk
sarees which is cheaper than the other two types. This
saree is mainly used for group performance where cost
factor matters. Many costumes are stitched at a time in
group performance.
oDRESS USED:
Blouse (upper part)
Pyjama (lower part)
Small fan (waist)
Pallu (drape over bosom)

21. KUCHIPUDI CLASSICAL DANCE
(Andhra Pradesh)

22. KUCHIPUDI
Krishna (Andhra Pradesh)

23. INDIAN CLASSICAL KUCHIPUDI
Kuchipudi - Hyderabad
(Andhra Pradesh)

24. oThe dancers adorn themselves with temple jewellery, which is
the style of ornaments worn by the deities in south Indian
temples.
oSome ornaments are made from silver with a plating of gold
and some worn by the artists are made up of a light weight
wood, called Boorugu.
o Jewelleries adorn the head, ear, neck, hands, fingers, and the
waist of the female dancers. It includes
RAKUDI (head ornament),
CHANDRA VANKI (arm ornament) and
ADDA BHASA and KASINA SARA (neck ornaments).
Even the long plait of dancer’s hair is decorated with
ornaments and beautiful white flowers.

25. o The male dancers are lightly ornamented.
Thus we can say that the kuchipudi dance form is known for its
grace and beauty which would be incomplete without its dressing
style, costumes, makeup and its jewellery.
JEWELRY USED:
Jumka (earring with upward extension)
Oddiyanam (waist band)
Nathni (nose ring)
Long Mala (long necklace)
Short Mala (choker)
2 Vaanki (arm bands)
Chudiya (colored bangles to match your dress)
Ghungroo (musical anklet with metallic bells)
Mattal (forehead)
Chandra (moon shaped hair ornament)
Surya (sun shaped hair ornament)
1 Red stick-on Bindi(a decorative mark worn in the middle of the forehead)

26. HAIR DECORATED
WITH
RAKUDI
WHITE FLOWERS (head ornament)
ADDA BHASA
&
KASINA SARA CHANDRA VANKI
(arm ornament)
(neck ornaments)

27. mridangam
manjira

28. Saraswati veena
violin

29. kanjira
surpeti

30. Venu
Tanpura

31. oAesthetics of color
o Darker colors make the dancer appear slimmer.
o lighter colors look better on a slim body.
ocolor black appears to make the body attractive and slim.
oPale colors enlarge the shape of the dancer.
oTo make the light colors stand out and the dark colors recede,
the colors should be shaded from light to dark.

32. oShringara (love and beauty).
oHasya (joy or mirth).
oBhibatsya (disgust).
oRowdra (anger and its forms).
oShanta (serenity and peace).
oVeera (heroism).
oBhaya (fear).
oKaruna (grief and compassion).
oAdbhuta (wonder and curiosity).

34. o HEAD GESTURES (nine)
Sama - level
Udvaahita - raised up
Adhomukha - down-cast face
Aalolita - rolling
Dhuta - shaken sideways
Kampita - nodded
Paraavrtta - turned round
Utksipta - thrown up
parivaahita - widely moved

35. oEYES (eight)
Sama - level
Aalokita - keen glance
Saaci - side long
Pralokita - wide glance
Nimilita - closed
Ullokita - looking up
Anuvrtta - quickly up & down
Avalokita - looking down

36. o NECK (four)
Sundari - to & fro horizontally
Tirascinaa - upward movement on both sides
Parivartitaa - right to left like half moon
Prakampitaa - backward & forwad movement

37. Hands
Single-hand gestures ()
Pataaka - flag Tripataaka- a flag with three
Ardhapataaka - half-flag Kartarimukha
Mayura - peacock Ardhacandra - half moon
Araala - bent Sukatunda - parrot's head
Musti - fist Sikhara - peak
Kapittha - elephant-apple Katakaamukha - opening in a bracelet
Suci Candrakalaa - digit of the moon
Padmakosa - lotus bud Sarpasiras - snake hood
Mrgasirsa - deer head Simhamukha - lion face
Kaangula Alapadma
Catura Bhramara - bee
Hamsaasya - swan beak Hamsapaksa - swan wing
Sandamsa - pincers Mukula - blossom
Taamracuda - cock Trisula - Trident
More Gestures mentioned in some texts
(Vyaghra-tiger, Ardhasuci, Kataka, Palli, Urnanaabha, Baana

38. COMBINED HANDS GESTURES (twenty three)
Anjali Kapota
Karkata Svastika
Dolaa Puspaputa
Utsanga Sivalinga
Katakaavardhana Kartaisvastika
Sakata Sankha
Cakra Samputa
Paasa Kilaka
Matsya Kurma
Varaha Garuda
Nagabandha Khatva
Bherunda

46. o http://www.kuchipudi.com
o http://www.indianheritage.com
o http://www.4to40.com
o Kuchipudi: Indian Classical Dance Art – by
Sunil Kothari and Avinash Pasricha.
o Classical dances of india.

47. Presented by
Deepak Kumar
Prince Kumar
Shailesh Kumar