Kuchipudi is a form of dance that originated in a village called Kuchipudi in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It is one of the eight major Indian classical dances. The Hindu-Sanskrit Natyasashtra book describes Kuchipudi, a dance-drama performance art. It is a form of art that is linked with temples and other religious beliefs. It is performed in association with the Hindu god of Krishna in the Vaishnavam tradition. The action starts with an invocation to the public.
In the first phase, the performer is introduced. Then, the role to be recreated is announced, and a short dance is performed to music. Next is pure dance, followed by rhythmic hand movements and expressive portions. A complete Kuchipudi sequence consists of movements in a solo or a group.
Normally Kuchipudi is performed at night because of the flawless beauty that the viewers can experience.Another reason is that the public can appreciate it most after a long day of work. A Kuchipudi performance is usually held in a temple with yellow lighting or castor oil lamps. The invocation involves prayer to God mainly Lord Ganesha because he is the God of good beginnings.
Unique Features of Kuchipudi Dance
Also, it can be a sign of respect to various Hindu gods, goddesses, earth, or the performer’s mentor. The actor or the dancer uses hand mudras and facial expressions with exacting footwork that is used to communicate with the public about the story that is in the backdrop. The hand signs and other gestures are inspired by the ancient Sanskrit texts.
Kavutvams are another Kuchipudi characteristic where the dancer adds acrobatics to complicate the performance. The artist balances pots on his head and moves rhythmically to the music, adding a burning lamp to both hands as the show goes on.
The costumes used in Kuchipudi is also a major speciality. A dancer in the male role wears a dhoti and the one in the female role wears a sari. Some special Kuchipudi plays may include unusual costumes to give more glitter to the show. Others may include a peacock feathered crown to identify the actor playing Krishna.
Kuchipudi is performed to Carnatic music. The performance is led by a conductor who continuously keeps the beat using symbols and recites the lyrics in a musical background. The conductor may also sing out the story or the message being enacted. In rare cases this can be the role of a separate vocalist or occasionally the actor themselves.
The openness and the flexibility of the Kuchipudi performers is one notable thing because they are not just dancing but at the same time have good control of other parts of the body which includes balancing the pot, lamp etc.
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