Artist Name: Smt Lakshmi Babu
Place: Germantown MD, USA
School/Organization: Kuchipudi Dance Academy
Website(s): http://kuchipudidanceacademy.com/
Youtube:
Contact:
Email:- Lakshmi@KuchipudiDanceAcedamy.com
Phone: (001) 301- 528-9062
Kuchipudi Dance Academy
13926 Rockingham Road,
Germantown, MD, 20874
Profile: http://www.kuchipudidanceacademy.com/452.html
Posted below with permission from the artist
At a very young age in the quest for Indian Dance she found her inspiration in renowned dance exponent Dr. Sobha Naidu. Her passion for the art continued through her learning years and she completed the course of study “Natya Visarada” - at Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad, India. Under the guidance of her guru Lakshmi began a career as a dance instructor and established the Kuchipudi Dance Academy, in 1996. Today, the academy is a well established institute that attracts young and adult aspiring dancers, and is known to be a popular dance school in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. Known to be gifted with a soft hearted, kind and generous nature she walks hand in hand and leads the students on their journey to discover and experience the graceful movements, intricate footwork, complicated rhythmic patterns, beautiful facial expressions and the rapid tempo of the Kuchipudi Dance form. Taking pride from graduating seniors, Lakshmi Babu has so far produced six acclaimed young performers. Shri Vishwayogi Viswamiji of Vishwayogi Viswamiji foundation for Integration and Peace awarded her the title ‘Nava Natya Kala Vibhushani’ (dancer par excellence), during Guru Poornima celebration at Sri Siva Vishnu Temple, Washington DC, in 2001. She was also awarded the Teacher Recognition Certificate by the National Foundation for the advancement in the Arts (USA) 2004-05 Arts Recognition and Talent Search Program - finalist entry being her first student Pallavi Uppuluri. Playing an active role in the Washington DC area cultural and community events Lakshmi has been associated with voluntary positions at various socio-cultural Organizations. Presently she is the Executive Cultural Director of the Capitol Area Telugu Cultural Society (CATS). She has been an active member of the Indian Dance Educators Association (IDEA) since 1993.
By staging various solo performances, dance drama productions along with students, collaborating with visiting artists from India, impressing the knowledgeable audience and bringing about curiosity to the lay audience Lakshmi has made several contributions to the Kuchipudi Art Form. AT KDA apart from class instruction, summer workshops and intensive training sessions have been a part of the regular curriculum.
Continued to be inspired by her guru, by her own students and by the extraordinary support offered by the members of her family this 10th year and beyond Lakshmi aspires to do more…."My life has been blessed with the good fortune that came my way in the form of KUCHIPUDI. My respects to all pioneers of this art form" .... LAKSHMI BABU
