Pallavi Kumar

Artist Name: Pallavi Kumar

Place: Houston, Texas

School: Pallavi Dance Academy

Website: http://pallavikumar.org/

Youtube:

Contact:

Email : pallavikumar96@yahoo.com ; 

pallavidanceacademy@gmail.com

Phone :

Pallavi Dance Academy

7614 Redmond Ct,
Sugarland, TX – 77479

Profile & Pictures posted with permission from the artist .

Born with an inherent sense of rhythm, Pallavi’s parents Sri V.V.Subba Rao & Smt. Jyothi discovered her artistic talent and initiated her into dance at age of 3 under the able guidance of Padmasri Bharata Kalaprapoorna Dr.Nataraja Ramakrishna, a guru, scholar and musicologist who propagated Classical Dance in Andhra Pradesh for the past 60 years. Very soon, Pallavi was deemed ready by her Guru to perform RangaPravesham or Dancers solo debut on stage in 1980. As a child, Pallavi participated in several regional & national dance competitions and won several accolades. Pallavi cherishes fond memories of Master garu through her toddler years for his unconditional love & affection. Pallavi is eternally indebted and interminably grateful for Master garu’s inception into the world of dance!

Pallavi further groomed her talent in the dance styles of Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi under the tutelage of “Sri Kalapoorna” Dr.K.Uma Rama Rao, Dancer, Choreographer, Research Scholar, Author and Director of Lasya Priya, Centre for higher learning & Research. Uma Rama Rao’s personalized and comprehensive training empowered Pallavi to take the strikingly different dance forms – Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi to diverse audience by participating in several prestigious programs all over India. Pallavi featured in major leading roles in several dance dramas choreographed by her guru.

Her further training under Sri Vedantam Raghava helped her gain deep conviction and faith in the power of dance and in this process made her discover her own creative potential. Sri Vedantam Raghava has given Pallavi an opportunity to explore the technique from several analytical and methodological frameworks resulting in a rigorous balance between creative work and academic study.  

Pallavi had a unique opportunity to learn quintessential nuances of abhinaya in Kuchipudi Yakshaganas, Padams & Javalis from “Sangeetha Yakshagana KalaPrapoorna” & “Yakshagana Vibhushan” Guru Sri Pasumarthy Venugopala Krishna Sarma, fondly known as “PVG”. She humbly treasures her association with this legendary guru who unveiled the subtleties of abhinaya by his precise enactment of role whether it was a Nayika, Sathyabhama, Usha or Banasura bearing testimony to the fact that the abhinaya is not merely a gestural language but it is the expression of intrinsic moods, rasas and meanings of the lyrics. His simple story telling technique, agility and technical clarity made her training emotional, artistic, enriching and rewarding.

She attended workshops conducted by Sri Pasumarthy Venugopala Sarma (Kuchipudi), Dr.Kanak Rele (Mohini Attam), Dr.C.V.Chandrasekhar ( Bharathanatyam ),   Priyadarshini Govind ( Bharathanatyam ), Bharath Sarma ( Contemparary ). 

She accomplished Master's in Performing Arts with specialization in Kuchipudi dance from Central University, Hyderabad. She received the titles of “NatyaBala (1982) & “Natya Mayuri” (1992) and was chosen to receive the “Vamsee Ugadi Puraskar” (2007) 

Pallavi had performed research on “Gollakalapam – Its Philosophy” for her thesis for Master’s in Performing Arts that gave her the precious opportunity to work closely with legendary Kuchipudi stalwarts Padmasri Guru Sri Vedantam Sathyanarayana Sarma, “Yakshagana Vibhushan” Guru Sri Pasumarthy Venugopala Sarma, Sri Pasumarthy Rattaih Sarma, Sri Chintalapudi PurnaChandra Rao, Sri B.L.Narsimham. A critically acclaimed soloist in Bharathanatyam & Kuchipudi, Pallavi performed to various audiences at several prestigious platforms in India, North America, Canada and Muscat. 

Bhagavatula Venkata Rama Sarma

Artist Name: Sri Bhagavatula Venkata Rama Sarma
Place: Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh
School/Organization: 
Sri Nrutya Kalasala
Sri Nrutya Art Academy
Website:
Youtube:

Contact:
Email :  natyachudamani.sarma@gmail.com
Phone : (91) 0866-2435802 ; 9849403167


#30-11-6, Annayyanaidu st, 1st lane
Vijayawada - 520002


Profile and pictures posted with permission from the artist


Sri Bhagavatula Venkata Rama Sarma is one of today's most revered Kuchipudi Gurus who is carry forward the torch of this exquisite dance form by imparting traditional training to the future generation. He has trained with great Gurus Sri Bhagavatula Yagna Narayana Sarma and Sri Vempati Chinna Satyam. He is working as a Bharatanatyam guru in GVR Music and Dance college, Vijayawada. He has founded and established Sri Nrutya Art Academy to promote Kuchipudi. Some of his prominent students are B.Sowmya, H.T. Rashmi, Sanjata Gupta, Ammulu, Rajatha Gora Indrani, Jyothirmay, Madhuri, Demos, Siva Rama Krishna. 


Some of his important achievements and performances are:

Sruthakirthy Pola

Artist Name: Sruthakirthy Pola
Place: Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
School/Organization:
Website:
Youtube:


Contact:
Email : sruthakirthy@gmail.com
Phone :


Profile & pictures posted with permission from the artist


Profile of Ms Srutha Kirthy, renowned classical dancer, TV journalist and anchor

Srutha Kirthy is acclaimed as a rare combination of dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer, TV journalist and compeer.

Father: P VIJAYA BABU Editor of the famous Telugu Daily Andhra Prabha, the then group of the Indian Express, and has been a media analyst of repute. A parental personality of cultural and literary field

Mother: Dr P. SARADA Coming from a traditional family, she is now serving as an official in the Andhra Pradesh Government. She is doing her research in journalism and at least four post-graduate degrees to her credit

Academic Background: Doing her Masters degree in Fine Arts with specialization in Kuchipudi and also in Business Management

Distinction in Kuchipudi Certificate exam by AP Tyagaraja Dance and Music College

Best outgoing student of St Ann’s, state ranker in Intermediate

Distinction in diploma course in  Mass Communication

B Com (Computers)

WORK EXPERIENCE:  Was the youngest news caster ,Worked as a news caster and reporter in reputed channels like Gemini(sun network),  Asianet, Etv, I news. Has produced  informative documentaries on dance for reputed channels, currently rendering services for ’ Natyamayuralu’ Doordarshan programme.

Dance Guru: Padmasri Dr Sobha Naidu

Creativity as a dancer and Choreographer: Giving the modern touch without disturbing the traditional fabric of the Kuchipudi dance form. (Sri Krishna’s Raasaleela)

Highlighting the traditional Yakshaganas dialogue style incorporating with modern touch in dance ballets (Jaiho Srikrishdevaraya, Sri Dattaramayana).

Multi-lingual dance ballets (Swamiye Saranamayyappa)

Choreographed the songs casting famous artistes Meena and Roja in the spiritual movie “Adi Sankara”

Performer: Young and dynamic guru, creative choreographer and radical performer is how she is termed on the dais. In the footsteps of her guru Padmasri Sobha Naidu, she is a big crowd-puller and best organizer.

Guru: As a teen-ager she trained a number of students under the able guidance of Dr Sobha Naidu and later started her own dance academy – Sruthy Art Academy -- and now heading it as its director. Her disciples get the holistic view of the dance art - practical, theoretical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

Writer: As writer and dance guru she is now bridging the gap between the generations by penning her works in easy and elucidate language that can be assimilated by even common readers. Having interviewed several national personalities she reflected them in both print and electronic media and has even run a column “Andela Sandadi” for over two years in the popular Andhra Prabha daily. The Telugu translation of the biography of renowned dance guru Dr Padma Subrahmanyam “Natya Padmam” has won her laurels.

COMPERE:  Acted as a compere for about 500 cultural, social, corporate events organized in india and abroad participated by the internationally renownwed dignitaries including the prime minister MANMOHAN SINGH.

Some of the awards and honours received: Natya Veda by GVR Aradhana Cultural Foundation, Vyakhayana Vipanchi by Sudha Arts which was presented by Jyanpeeth Dr C Narayana Reddy.

Honours conferred on her by the Vice President of India, the late Bhairoan Singh Shekhawat, at the national convention of Indian Media Centre, his Excellency, Dr K Rosaiah, in his capacity of the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, His Excellency Sri E S L Narasimhan, Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Sri Sushil Kumar Shinde, the Union Minister in his capacity as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, Sri N Chandrababu Naidu, the Late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and other dignitories.

Felicitations: Felictations have come from both national and international organsiations. To mention a few,  TSR Kala Peetham has honoured her from the hands of Thespian Akkineni Nageswara Rao, in the august presence of Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan (Mami),  Nruthya Chudamani Priyadarsini Govind and Padma Bhushan Dr Swapna Sundari while Tollywood Mega Star Chiranjeevi and Padmasri Dr Sobha Naidu felicitated her on behalf of the Vamsi International, Padma Bhushan Dr C Narayana Reddy and noted playback singer Dr P Susheela felicitated for Yuva Kalavahini and organsiations like Rasamayi and Abhinandana also honoured her through former Karnataka Governor V S Rama Devi.

Chaitanya Arts by Dr K V Ramana Chary, Kinnera through Mr Roddam Prabhaker Rao, IPS, Sukanya Arts from renowned writer and Sahitya Academy awardee Vasireddy Sita Devi, Tanisha Yuva Nruthotsavam at Kuchipudi by Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, Potti Sriramulu Telugu University Dance Festival where she was honoured by Odissi exponent Padmasri Ranjana Gouhar in the presence of Padmasri Nataraja Ramakrishna, in the ANR Swarana Kankanam programme feliciatted by Padma Bhushan Dr Padma Subrahmanyam, SVR Swarana Kankanam programme by veteran actress Dr K R Vijaya, 500 years celebrations of Sri Krishna Devaraya in Hyderabad by then TTD Trust Board Chairman, Sri D K Adikesavulu Naidi and State Minister Smt Galla Aruna, at Chandragiri by minister Smt Galla Aruna, and at Penugonda minister Raghuveera

In Delhi at Internations Children’s Assembly by a Union Minister and AP Bala Bhavan Director, in Bhubaneswar Konark Festival by some Odissa State Ministers, at Dassera festival at Vijayawada, at Sri Kalahasti and Visakhi Festival at Visakhapatnam by Padmasi Sobha Naidu and other local dignitories, at Srirangapattinam near Mysore by local dignitories and also at Chamundeswari Temple besides other popular temples in South India.

Ugadi Puraskaram by the AP Government and as jury member at the International Children’s Film Festival by Sri S Jaipal Reddy

During childhood she won several prizes and felicitation in elecutions, essay writings and dance competitions etc.               

Abroad:  US : Silicon Andhra, Calofornia

Vanguri Foundation of America, Huston

A documentary is being produced on the greatness of Kuchipudi

Writings: Interviewed various globally acclaimed dance exponents which were published in different journals which are being copelled in a work

Effort to bring out a book on Kuchipudi art forms win journalistic parlance with ilustrations from famous artists

Efforts are also on to bring out a book compleing the articles published in Andhra Prabha .

On the lines of the biography of Padma Subrahmanyam efforts are being made to bring out more such books

Interviews are also being planned for Doordasrsan and other TV channels on various dance forms

Pranhuti Suri

Artist Name: Pranhuti Suri

Place: Texas, US

School/Organization:

Website: http://pranhutisuri.webs.com/pranhutisuri.htm

Videos: http://pranhutisuri.webs.com/apps/videos/

Contact:

Email :  srilatha@natyanjalius.com

Phone : (001) 972-334-9609

Shobha Korambil

Artist Name: Shobha Korambil
Place: Chennai
School/Organization: Sridevi Nrithyalaya
Website:
Youtube:


Contact:
Email : korambilshobha@yahoo.com
Phone : (91)-98408-35825

17 North HighCourt Colony 

Redhills Road 

Villivakkam Chennai-600049

Tamilnadu, India


Profile posted with permission from the artist

SHOBHA KORAMBIL

Kuchipudi Dance Artiste

“….she is also an excellent solo performer and her form of nritta and sensitive abhinaya have won the appreciation of critics and art lovers . Her dedication to art is total and absolute.”

                                                      - Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam on Shobha Korambil

Shobha was born and brought up in Chennai, the cultural capital of India.  She was initiated into dancing at her 10th year of age by her parents and had undergone training in Melattur style of Bharathanatyam from late Guru Sundaram (Disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sri Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer) for 9 years. Shobha then started her training in Kuchipudi  dance under the direct  tutelage of Guru Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam  in 1990 at Kuchipudi  Art Academy, Chennai  . Since then, she has participated in several Programmes staged by the Academy and has toured across India and around Globe as a member of her mentor Dr. Vempati's  Troupe.

Shobha’s  21 years of  journey on this path of Kuchipudi has seen her perform along with  Guru Dr.Vempati  Chinna Satyam’s troupe at some of the following prestigious events :

·        Sangeet Natak Academy- New Delhi

·        Mamallapuram Dance Festival-Tamil Nadu

·        Deccan Herald Festival of dance-Karnataka

·        Surya Dance Festival – Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala

·        Nishagandhi Dance Festival- Thiruvanathapuram ,Kerala

·        Konark Dance Festival- Orissa

·        Chembur Fine Arts Festival- Maharashtra

·        Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival

·       Andhra Day Celebrations, New Delhi

Shobha’s International Sojourns with Dr. Vempati include performances in :

·        World Music Theatre Festival in 1996, Netherlands and Belgium

·        Kuchipudi Globe Trot, performing in 30 cities in United States and  in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore from Aug – Dec 2004.

Shobha’s independent performances abroad:

·         Tamil Day Celebrations - Reunion Islands in 2002

·         UNSRC Photographic Society& Arise India presentation at New      York in 2006  

·         National Geographic Society Centre in Washington DC and Lincoln Center, New York in 2005 during a presentation on India  organized by National Geographic Traveller Magazine  with the famous photographer Steve Mcurry.

·         Multiple performances at Indian Consulate, New York between 2004 & 2007

·         19^th Annual National Convention of Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America

·         Pranapratishtha anniversary  celebrations of Hindu Samaj temple in Wappingers Falls, New York State   in 2006

·         Multiple Performances at the Hindu Temple Society of North America from 2004-2010

·         Boston University Seminar in the Arts in 2005

·         Lotus Music & Dance , New York – Celebrations of  South India Music and Dance in 2006

·         India Culture Festival , Seoul, South Korea in 2006

·         Korea World Travel Fair, Seoul in 2006

·       Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance, New York 2010 (This performance was reviewed by Alastair Macaulay in The New York Times on Aug 19, 2010 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/19/arts/dance/19guru.html)

Workshops  & Lecture Demonstrations by Shobha

·        Lucille Roberts – Gym for women, New York City – 2006

·        Lotus Music and Dance, New York – 2006

Shobha now performs and trains with Yuvakala Vipanchi  Sri Kishore Mosalikanti in Chennai. Some of her important performances  with Kishore’s troupe are :

• International Dance Alliance (IDA) –Chennai in 2007
• Natyanjali –Chidambaram in 2007
• Ananya Dance Festival, New Delhi  in 2008
• Dhouli Festival -Bhubeneshwar in 2009
• Choreography Festival of Impresario India, New Delhi  in 2009
• Bharat Bhavan Annual dance festival  in Bhopal in 2009
• Rukmani Devi Arundale centenary celebrations at Kalakshetra, Chennai in 2010
• Nada Neeranjanam, Tirumala Tirupathi in 2010
• Annual Music & Dance Festival, Music Academy, Chennai January 2011
• National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai in 2011
• Konark Dance Festival, Konark in 2011

Shobha significant solo performances

• Mylapore Fine arts Club - 2008
• Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha – 2008
• Bharat Kalachar - 2008
• Mudra, Thiruvananthapuram - 2008
• Mamallapuram dance festival - 2008 and 2009
• Nishgandhi Onam Celebrations - 2008
• Akruthi - 2009
• Natyanjali, Chidambaram – 2010

• Umang – NCPA, Mumbai – 2011

Shobha's urge to acquire proficiency in dancing and dedication shaped herself into an artiste of considerable promise. A Commerce graduate, she is a multifaceted personality. She is a diploma holder in Travel and Tourism management and also in Cosmetology. She has been awarded the prestigious "Natya Visharada" award by Kuchipudi Art Academy in 1997. She was also the recipient of  Scholarship for Young  Artiste in field of  Kuchipudi ,awarded by Department of Culture, Govt of India during 1998-2000.

Shobha continues to follow the foot steps of her Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, dedicating herself to take Kuchipudi to the younger generations through teaching and performances.

Shobha lives in Chennai, India undergoing advance training, teaching and performing Kuchipudi and also guiding the budding dancers at Sridevi Nrithyalaya, an institute run by her sister Smt. Sheela Unnikrishnan.

Neelima Gaddamanugu

Artist Name: Neelima Gaddamanugu
Place: Atlanta, Georgia
School/Organization: Natarajanatyanjali Kuchipudi Dance Academy
Website:
Youtube:

Contact:
Email : neelu@neelima.org
Phone : (001) 770-521-6708

NatarajaNatyanjali
8045 Brook wood way
Cumming,GA 30041

Profile & pictures posted with permission from the artist

Neelima Gaddamanugu started her Kuchipudi journey at the age of four under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Mythili Prabhakar, a senior student of Guru Sri Bhagavathula Ramakotayya and Dr.UmaRamarao garu. She also trained under Guru Sri Dandhibotla Narayana Murthy who is a senior student of Guru Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Thus,Neelima had the unique opportunity to learn and understand the techniques from the two pillars of Kuchipudi dance tradition over the course of 18 years. This rigorous training enabled Neelima to win number of honors including Gold Medals and First prizes at a number of cultural competitions and dance festivals in Andhra Pradesh, where Kuchipudi dance form originated.

Neelima has given more than three hundred performances all over India. She performed as a lead in all the major dance ballets under her Guru’s production - Priyam Venkatesam (Padmavathi and Lakshmi Devi), Siva-Ganga (Ganga),Sri Annamayya Charitam (Alimelumanga), Sasirekha Parinayam (Sasirekha), Sri Krishna Satya (Satyabhama). She was also invited to give performances at several Temple Festivals including Tirupathi, Bhadrachalam, Srisailam, Annavaram, Simhachalam, Birla Mandir on important religious occasions.

Neelima is critically acclaimed as a young choreographer for her dance compositions, particularly for Mahishasura Mardhani Stotram, Asta Lakshmi Stotram, several Annamayya Kruthi’s (Alarulu Kuriyaga, Yemuko Chiguruta Adharamuna, Adigo Alladigo, Vedukundama Venkatagiri, Tandanana Hare) and Javalis.

Her commitment to Kuchipudi dance has been evident both from her active participation in dance seminars and organization of dance festivals in Andhra Pradesh. In addition, she took upon fund raising responsibilities and performed for numerous social, charitable and religious causes.She also learnt Carnatic Vocal from Guru Smt. Sita Mahalakshi for 6 years and Veena from Guru Sri Buchibabu for 4 years.

Neelima started teaching since age 12, conducting summer classes often to students much older than her!

She has been teaching Kuchipudi since December 2003 in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Her passion and commitment to this art form motivated her to form Nataraja Natyanjali Dance Academy with a goal to further popularize Kuchipudi dance through teaching and continuing the parampara.Shes been doing various performances and fund rasing events in and around Atlanta from past 7 yrs. This academy now has over 80 students.

Sailaja Chaudhary Tummala

Artist Name: Sailaja Chaudhary Tummala
Place: Foxboro, MA, USA
School/Organization: Sri Kuchipudi Natyalaya
Website: http://www.kuchipudidance.net/index.php
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/esailaja1

Contact:
Email : esailaja@yahoo.com
Phone : (001) 508-534-1181 ; 781 492 2146 

107 S High St Foxboro,
MA 02035 

Profile posted with permission from the artist

Sailaja is the Director of Sci Kuchipudi Natyalaya in Greater Boston. She is a Disciple of Padmashree Dr. Sobha Naidu Sailaja has been a professional Kuchipudi teacher for the last 12 years and has been performing dance solos and ballets for over 20 years, she played many lead roles while performing in India, US and UK with Dr. Sobha Naidu. She was awarded ‘Singar Mani’ in the 2000 ‘Kal Ke Kalakar’ by Sur Singer Samsad of Bombay. She holds Masters Degree in Kuchipudi Classical Dance form Telugu University of Hyderabad. She received Government of India’s scholarship for advance training in Kuchipudi. She was awarded ‘Natya Visharada’ from Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad.

Sailaja has mastered her skills over the time in composing new dance items, training, makeup, lighting and coordinating dance events. She has successfully coordinated/performed many dance ballets under her guru’s banner.

First Birthday

Very happy to celebrate the first birthday of Kuchipudi Kalakar.
Thank you all for the immense support in the past year. Looking forward to a continued partnership! Thank you!
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You are doing a great service to Kuchipudi Natyam. We artists should be honored to be a part of this mega project.  – Smt Rathna (Papa) Kumar Director, Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Houston, Texas

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Thanks on behalf of all dancers and all my support to you in such ventures. Please go ahead with the work non stop. -Smt Vyjayanthi Kashi

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 Very happy to know you are doing a great job in bringing details of Kuchipudi dancers around the world into one blog. Keep up this work in great esteem. -Sri Madhavapeddi murthy 

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 You are doing great job for Kuchipudi Dance. -Sri Pasumarthy Venkateswara Sarma
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It is quite a big task that you have taken upon yourself, by sheer interest and love for Kuchipudi! Congratulations! We should all thank you for your efforts. - Shantala Shivalingappa

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 It is a blessing to the art form and its performers to have an organiser. You are doing a great work by bringing all the artists to learn more about each other. - Dr Sandeep Bodhanker
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I came across your Kuchipudi Kalakar blog accidentally. I was so happy to go through it and know about you. You have rendered a great service to dance.  – Sri Shyamhari , Dance critic

Pallavi Prativadi

Artist Name: Pallavi Prativadi
Place:  
Charlotte,North Carolina,USA /Hyderabad,AP
School/Organization: 
Pallavi Academy of performing arts
Website:
Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/user/pallavi162


Contact:
Email :pallavi.prativadi@gmail.com
Phone :


Profile & Pictures posted with permission from the artist

“The lone participant in Kuchipudi, Hyderabad's P B Pallavi was a connoisseurs' delight. Groomed by her dancer-mother P B Krishna Bharathi, this fresh graduate in electronics engineering had a majestic stage presence and exhibited perfection and artistry in her performance…” -Narthaki.com

“Soulful abhinaya,Dance Nrityotsav 2007 turns out to be a bonanza for dance lovers…” –The Hindu

“Captivating Kuchipudi fare. Pallavi performed with her good stage presence,enhanced visual appeal and executed with practised ease…”-The Hindu

Pallavi hails from a family of musicians and dancers.Her mother and guru Smt.P.B.Krishna Bharathi had inspired and motivated her to start early and has been performing since the age of seven. A student of "Pallavi Academy of Fine Arts", Pallavi balanced her career and her passion for the art form, thus setting up an example for other budding dancers. She is presently an electronics and communication engineer. Emerging as an excellent dancer with a perfect sense of rhythm, expression and grace, Pallavi is as hard working  as she is dedicated to this art.

Pallavi has performed numerous times across the nation at various prestigious festivals and meets and has received various awards such as Singar Mani,Senior level ICCRT Scholarship and Nrityarchana. A few of the notable performances include the Soorya and Swaralaya Festivals in Kerala, Devdasi and Ekamra Festivals in Bhuvaneshwar, Sica and Kalasagaram Youth Festivals in Hyderabad,World Telugu Conferences in Singapore,Malayasia,Srilanka and Dubai,Festival of India in Charlotte,NC. Pallavi had continued to be active in her profession by performing,teaching and Choreographing.

Chitra Kalyandurg

Artist Name: Chitra Kalyandurg
Place: Rockville, MD, USA
School/Organization: 
Website(s): www.kalanidhi.org
Personal site under construction;
Youtube: 
http://www.youtube.com/user/ckalyandurg

Press:
NYTimes Review ; Artist Profile in Pulse Magazine

Contact:
Email: c.kalyandurg@gmail.com
5804 Inman Park Circle
Rockville, MD 20852

Profile & Pictures posted with permission from the artist

Chitra Kalyandurg is a performer, educator and choreographer based in Rockville, MD.  She has been a student of Kuchipudi since 1989 and began training with renowned Kuchipudi artist and guru, Anuradha Nehru in 1994.  She has also trained with artists such as Kishore Mosalikanti, Sasikala Penumarthi, Mrinalini Sadananda,Vempati Ravi Shankar, and Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam.  Chitra is both a solo artist as well as a performer with the Kalanidhi Dance Company.  She has performed at venues such as Joyce SoHo, National Geographic Society, the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, and Dance Place. 

In 2007, Chitra took part in Kalanidhi Dance’s tour to India, where she performed at the celebrated Ananya Festival of Dance.  In 2008 she studied dance and choreography in India with the support of a Creative Projects grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. 

Chitra is a recipient of the prestigious 2009 Princess Grace Dance Honoraria for her artistic excellence in Kuchipudi. In 2010, Chitra was selected to create and present an original, collaborative theater piece alongside two other artists for the Source Theater Festival.  Also in 2010, Chitra collaborated with Shailaja Maru-Jauhari to produce and perform “On the Temple Path,” a thematic presentation in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. For two years, Chitra performed with Bharatanatyam dancer Lakshmi Swaminathan as an artist with the Maryland chapter of Young Audiences/Arts for Learning, a national organization for arts in education.  She is currently the S&T Policy Fellowships Program Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Sudha Sridhar

Artist Name: Smt. Sudha Sridhar
Place: Bangalore, India
School/Organization:
Nartana Academy of Performing Arts
Websites:
http://www.youtube.com/Panchamavedam 
http://nartanaacademy.blogspot.com/

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/Panchamavedam

Contact:

Email : sudhasridhar@hotmail.com

Phone : (91) 80 - 2321 2396; 99865 23451


Profile & Pictures posted with permission of the artist

Sudha Sridhar started her journey in dance as a child artist at a very young age of six. She had the honour of having her Natya Aramba Puja being performed by Doyen Guru Padma Bhushan Shri Vempati Chinna Satyam in Chennai on the birthday of Padmashree Sobha Naidu, from whom she had the initial formal lessons in Hyderabad. Having a unique dance birth, Sudha continued to be trained by both the Gurus and her stay at Kuchipudi Art Acadamey, Chennai went a long way in making her what she is today in Dance.

Sudha did her Bachelors in Performing Arts (Kuchipudi) from Telugu University, Hyderabad particularly learnt music, choreography, stage management and production skills under the guidance of Dr. Alekya Punjala & Bhagavatula Sethuram.

Sudha Sridhar is also a double graduate having graduated in Law from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

Sudha has performed extensively throughout India under different banners and solo performances in front of diverse audiences. Her performances have been for Kuchipudi Art Academy, Telugu University, Soumitri Fine Arts, Andhra Pradesh Endowments, Andhra University, Nrutya Darpan, etc as enumerated below:

• Received First Prize in 54th Dance Competition conducted by Sri Gowthami Kala Vihara, Vishakhapatnam Ship Yard, conducted by Vishaka Valley, Vizag.
• Republic Day Parade at New Delhi – Depicting Kuchipudi.
• Trinity Thyagaraja Panchami Function at Lalitha Kala Thornam, Hyderabad.
• Sangeetha Natak Academy Youth Festival, Ahmedabad.
• Christmas Celebrations at Chirag Fort Club, Hyderabad conducted by Mariappa International Eductational Society.
• U N Peace Day Programme organized by Indian Federation of Friendship Association with Foreign countries at Thyagaraya Gana Sabha, Hyderabad.
• Melu Kalayika, Bangalore Palace Grounds, organized by Andhra Association, Bangalore.
• Ugadi day Celebrations at Lalitha Kala Thornam organized by Andhra Pradesh Cultural Affairs.
• Three years as an artist of Andhra Pradesh Endowments, in all the pilgrimages centers in AP.

• Ballet ‘Pallaki Seva’ at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad during Princess Diana and Prince Charles visit to India.
• At Government Music College, Hyderabad, in front of then Governor of Andhra Pradesh.
• Selected for Dance - USSR Exchange Program.
• At Jammu Tawi as part of Osmani University, Hyderabad, based on Inter College Exchange Programee.
• Indian Chartered Secretaries Seminar at Nizam’s Club, Hyderabad.
• Eve of Kavi Sammelanam 1993 at Rabindra Bharathi, Hyderabad organized by A P Cultural Affairs, Hyderabad.
• Shivarathi Mahotsavam at Srikalahasti conducted by Endowments Department.
• Ugadi Day celebrations at Ravindra Kala Kunj, Pune.
• Ugadi Day Celebrations at Pune Film Institute organized by Andhra Association, Pune.
•  AICC Function at Tirupathi.
•  Tirupathi Brahmo Utsav, Tirupathi.
• National Moot Court Seminar at Sundarayya Vigyan Mandir, Hyderabad conducted by Vasavi Education Society.
• Performed at Krishna Nagar Cultural Association, Hyderabad.
• Sri Venkateshwara Temple inauguration Function at Vanasthallipuram, Hydearabad.
• At Hampi Utsav along with her students in dance ballet ‘Geet Govindam’. 

• Performed at Satya Sai Seva Trust, Puttaparthi, ballet ‘Mahishasura mardini’ in front of Satya Sai Baba.
• Ballets for Doordarshan Hyderabad production.
• Sanghi Temple Inauguaration, Hyderabad.
• At Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, Hyderabad.
• Performed at Pune, Kharagapur & Kolkata for Andhra Association.
• Dance Ballet – ‘Shiva Ganga’ at Bharatiya Viday Bhavan, Bangalore for Padmavathi Kala Niketan, Bangalore.
• Performed at Shanmukhananda Sabha, Mumbai.
• Performed at Bharatiya Viday Bhavan, Hyderabad.
• Performed at Vasavi Fine Arts, Navya Nataka Samiti, Yuva Kala Vahini, Samskara Bharathi, Akruti Fine Arts.
• Andhra University & Vizag Gautami Kala Vihar.
• Kakitya Festival, Warangal.
• Ganga Utsav, Varanasi. 
• Birla Institute of Scientific Research, Jaipur.
• Thermal Power Project, Madhya Pradesh.
• Ballet ‘Srinivas Kalyanam’ in Music Academy, Chennai.

Apart from performing at an individual capacity at various places, Sudha has performed in various roles in the following Ballets:

Geetha Govindam, Shiva Ganga, Mohini Bhasmasura, Ambedkar, Srinivasa Kalyanam, Pallaki seva,

Hara Vilasam, Varudhini-pravarakyudu, Anarkali, Sakunthala, Daksha yagnam, Annamacharya, etc.

Having been a performer, Sudha’s interest in Choreography was a very natural transition and is her inherent strength too since her heart is in it. Further she is influenced by her Gurus who had churned out innumerable disciples – the art of applying Dance as a communication medium more as a puja. Her approach is to go beyond achieving reward, awards and grave for the glitter world and set up a platform for a spiritual enlightenment through the medium of Dance.

Some of her choreographies worth mentioning are:

• Her choreography for St. Anns, Vanasthalipuram, bagged the first prize at the Republic Day Celebrations at Lal Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad. The dance was based on patriotic Ghazal songs.
• Choreographed dance for Ayurvedic Medical College, Hyderabad for their building inauguration in front of the then Health Minister of AP won her good reviews.
• Skits for Child Rights under the aegis of UNICEF, UNO.
• On Raja Yogam from Bhagavad Geetha.
• On Baja Govindam and sanskriti slokas bringing out the similarities with Christian Hymns and philosophy.
• On Pancha Bhootamalu for a charity cause.
• On Thillanas of Shri. M Balamurali Krishna’s

For Shri Ram Chandra Mission, Chennai.

• A portion of the Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach.
• Skit on transformation of Siddartha to Lord Gautam Buddha.
• Krishna Tula Bharam.

Sudha is now teaching Kuchipudi dance through Nartana Academy of Performing Arts on a very selective basis, who are dedicated and serious about dance.

Her passion for Kuchipudi dance and sensing the need for showcasing Kuchipudi Yakshaganam, the original genre at the present juncture,  Sudha Sridhar can be called as a cultural activist as a Founder Director of Panchamavedam Foundation which is primarily devoted to preserving, protecting and promoting Kuchipudi Yakshagana through various advocacy efforts.

She had once danced for the sake of Child Rights through UNICEF but now she is working for Cultural Rights of Kuchipudi Yakshaganam.

Currently Sudha Sridhar is also a resource person for an Exclusive Dance magazine – Kalaspandan, Bangalore and Nartaki.