KUCHIPUDI DANCE
DANCES OF INDIA – KUCHIPUDI DANCE
Kuchipudi or Koochipoodi is a classical Indian dance form from Andhra Pradesh State of India. It is also popular all over South India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form. Kuchipudi dancers are quicksilver and scintillating, and rounded and fleet footed. And performed to classical Carnatic music, it shares many common elements with Bharatanatyam Dance Form.
The Kuchipudi dance styles in the State are based on the standard treatises, viz. Abhinaya Darpana and Bharatarnava of Nandikeshwara, which is sub-divided into Nattuva Mala and Natya Mala. Nattuva Mala is of two types, the Puja dance performed on the Balipitha in the temple and the Kalika dance performed in a Kalyana mandapam. And other Nattuva Mala is of three kinds, viz. Ritual dance for gods, Kalika dance for intellectuals and Bhagavatam for common place. The Natya Mala is a dance-drama performed by a troupe, consisting only of men, who play feminine roles .
The songs in Kuchipudi are mimed with alluring expressions and Face expressions, swift looks and fleeting emotions evoking the rasa. In Tarangam at times she places a pot full of water on her head and dances on the brass plate. The song accompanying this number is from the well known Krishna Leela Tarangini, and a text which recounts the life and events of Lord Krishna.
