Senior Kuchipudi dance exponent, Kalasri Dr. P. Rama Devi, did her doctorate in Kuchipudi dance, on the topic ‘Comparative Study of Chathurvidha Abhinayas between Kathakali and Kuchipudi Yakshaganas from P. S. Telugu University in 2010 and is currently a professor at University of Silicon Andhra, California, US. In 1989, Rama Devi established her institution Sri Sai Nataraja Academy of Kuchipudi Dance in Secunderabad and trains students for certificate, diploma courses (conducted by PS Telugu University), for senior scholarships, advance training in Kuchipudi Kalapas, tala and nattuvangam.
With the support and blessings of Sri Bhagavathula Sethuram garu, Dr. P Rama Devi revived and presented Gollakalapam, all across the country and the US. She also learnt the Dadinamma Veshakatha under the guidance of Guru Pasumarthi Seshubabu garu and is promoting it now. Popular for Satvikabhinaya, Rama Devi is known for bringing alive the character of Ravana in ballets. She has choreographed 28 ballets and among them eight have been written by herself and has performed at many festivals in India and the US.
She is the recipient of many awards, including the Kerala Sangeeta Natak Academy’s ‘Kalasree’ award (2013) , ‘Keerthi Puraskaram’ from Telugu University (2019), ‘Life time achievement’ award in memory of late Padma Bhushan Vempati Chinnasatyam from Satyanjali School of Kuchipudi dance, Kochi etc.
A prolific writer, Dr. P Rama Devi has written six books on Kuchipudi dance and conceived a CD ‘Natyasastra in a Nutshell’ which covers all topics of Natyasastra in PPT. Her books are used for reference for various courses in Kuchipudi dance across the world. The Raja Ram Mohan library has selected two books and they are available in all Central libraries in the country. She also regularly contributes articles at many national and international seminars.