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.
