Chaithanya Kusuma Priya Ari was recently in the news for performing non-stop 50 jathis on an online platform in January 2021, conducted by Guru Sri Madurai R Muralidaran, and received appreciation from India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records.
Hailing from the temple town of Tirupati, in Andhra Pradesh, Chaithanya began learning dance at the age of five under the guidance of Guru Sasikala. She trained in the Dhandayudhapani Pillai school of Bharatanatyam under Guru C. Haranath, disciple of Late Smt. Usha Srinivasan leading student of the great Guru late Sri K.N. Dhandayudhapani Pillai. While in Sunderland, United Kingdom, she trained under Guru, Kalaimamani Chamundeswari, for a year. After relocating to Hyderabad, she is undergoing intensive training under Guru Swathi Mahalakshmi Kukrety.
With over 100 performances to her credit in last two decades, mainly in the temple town, she is currently learning Nattuvangam and Bharatanatyam from Guru RLV Hemanth Lakshman garu. Chaithanya has a MA in Bharatanatyam from SV College of Music & Dance, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh. She concentrated on the Study of various banis (styles) in Bharatanatyam and its different technique and presentation as part of her Masters.
She proudly recalls that her Guru C Haranath Garu gave her ankle bells, which she used till her Arangetram. As a dancer, she loves performing in temples, but also loves presentation at the Ravindra Bharathi. Currently, she teaches dance at the Nāda Mudra School of Dance. “I teach my students to respect diversity, aesthetic dance forms and strive to preserve the authenticity and correct grammar of Bharatanatyam. My students have access to specialized workshops where not only theoretical but practical knowledge also gets an equal weightage,” Chaithanya says.