Kandula Kuchipudi Natyalayam, under the able guidance of its guru, Ravi Kuchipudi, celebrated Sri Krishna Janamashtami, at Shilparamam Madhapur on the third Saturday of August. Nearly 77 students presented Krishna Natya Tarangini on the occasion. The students presented different leelas of Lord Krishna. The evening’s first three pieces were devoted to Lord Ganesha, where students Mahati, Shloka, Nidhi, Javali, Siri, Saanvi, Dhanvi, Thanvi, Akshita, Pragna, and Aaradhya presented Mooshika Vahana. Baby Asvitha Koka presented Maha Ganapati and baby Naga Vaishnavi the Vinayaka Kowthvam.
Geethika, Snigdha, Kiranmai, Nikhila, Kamala, Gayatri, Manasvi, Stuthi and Tanvika presented Pushpanjali set in Kambhoj Ragam and Aadi Talam. This was followed by Garuda Gamana, where dancers Adithi, Nanditha, Likitha Krishna, Sahasra V, Rushita, Aradhya, Akshitha, Pranga Karthika and Naga Vaishnavi performed. This was followed by Jathiswaram, where dancers Karthika, Anjali Nair, Sriya, Hema, Roopa, Naga Sahithi, Jahanvi, Deetya, and Asvitha Koka exhibited their dancing skills.
Then followed the most popular numbers where the dancers had lot of opportunity to express the footwork and abhinaya. In Paluke Bangaramayena, a Bhadrachala Ramdasu keertana, Ishita, Dhaanvi A, Lakshmi, Ahana Nair, Karthika Y, Sudeeksha, Nidhuna, Pragna and Malayavasini performed. Dancers brought the house down in Bho Shambhoo, set in Revathi Ragam and Aadi Talam, where dancers Samhitha, Nihitha Sai, Rutvika, Sahasra K, Joshitha, Haneesha and Sreelekha performed.
In another Ramadasu keertana, Thakkuvemi manaku, Saanvi, Sai Supriya, Laasya, Rishika, Manasi and Neha presented. Dancers Satvika, Mukunda, Kanishka, Lalitaamruta, and Jashitha presented the popular Annamacharya keertana, Ithade Parabrahma, in Aadi Talam.
What followed next were pieces on the Blue God. A composition of Sri Narayana Teertharu set in Aadi Talam, dancers Navya Deepika, Pathakota Harshini, Devi Vaishnavi, Rithika, and Sahithi brought out the little Krishna’s pranks. This was followed by Krishna Sabdam set in Ragamalika and Aadi Talam and dancers Lalitaamruta, Kanishka and Jeshitha presented it. In Neela Megha Shariram, a Narayanateertaru Tarangam, Harshini, Varnitha, Sudeepthi, Akshita, Sahasra Ch, and Lekhya performed. The finale was Thillana set in Hindola Ragam and Aadi Talam, a composition of Mangalampalli Balamurlikrishna, which was brought to life by Mitravinda, Vasavi, Tarini, Maha Lakshmi, Hamsini, Srihitha, Thaswika and Samanvitha.
On this occasion, Kandula Kuchipudi Natyalayam honoured senior gurus Sri Kaza Venkata Subramanyam Garu and Sri Vedantam Satya Narasimha Sastry Garu. Dr. Kaza Venkata Subramanyam Garu, has been teaching Kuchipudi dance for the last 25 years. Over 200 of his students are now teaching the art form. Credit is given to Kaza Venkata Subramanyam Garu for popularising the art form in Guntur and Prakasam districts in Andhra Pradesh. On the other hand, Sri Vedantam Sathya Narasimha Sastry garu, born and brought up in a traditional Kuchipudi dance family, learnt dance from maestros – Sri Vedantam Radheyshyam, Sri Vempati China Satyam, Sri Vedantam Rattayya Sarma. Apart from proficiency in dance, Kaza Venkata Subramanyam Garu is well-versed in music, mrudangam, nattuvangam and Sahityam.
