Kuchipudi hails from the south-eastern state of Andhra Pradesh and is one of the seven classical dance forms of India. It developed in the 17th century as an all-male dance drama. And it’s only in 20th century that it metamorphosed into a solo-dance form performed mostly by women. Kuchipudi like all the other classical forms follows the injunctions laid down in the Natya Shastra, the oldest known treatise on Indian Dramaturgy.
The origins of Kuchipudi are ascribed to a saint-poet by the name of Siddendra Yogi. And the dance form shares its name with the village of its origin.

Kuchipudi employs various prescriptions laid down in Natya Shastra. Beginning with the broad divisions of Tandava (masculine) and Lasya (feminine) styles, its histrionic art is enriched by nritta (abstract movement) nritya ( literary compositions conveyed through hand-gestures, facial expressions, mime, and action) and Natya (nritta and nritya used with the spoken word and dramatic elements). Throughout these features tala and laya (time-measures and rhythms) is maintained with precision.

Mudras used in a distinct language of hand gestures developed and became codified with much thought.

Abhinaya or acting uses the four main tools of Angika (bodily movement) Vachika (dialogue and song) Aharya (costuming) and Sattvika (emotional reaction) to communicate with telling effect.

When the dancer employs the various techniques to delineate a Bhava (sentiment), Rasa (enjoyments of the audience) is created.

One of the stylistic identities of Kuchipudi is from its effective usage of Lokhadharmi (natural representation) along with Natyadharmi (stylized representation). Lokhadharmi with its proximity of ordinary life is instantly appealing. The flavor is further enhanced with the peculiar feature of the principle character introducing herself in a “patra pravesha daruvu” as she takes to the stage.

Dancing on the rim of brass plate displaying the dancer’s mastery over footwork and precision in rhythm came to be another salient feature of Kuchipudi.

While all the dance forms draw from mythology to imbue a sense of awe and wonder, Kuchipudi’s ebullience and sensuous lyricism has given it a hue and fragrance, entirely its own.