<p>Kuchipudi icon Raja Reddy is busy preparing for the second International Kuchipudi Dance Convention at Hyderabad, when we call him for an interview. Considering he is a vital part of the event which begins on December 24 and lasts till December 26 and also brings together five generations of performers, about 4,000 artistes and dance-lovers for a series of workshops, lecture-demonstrations and performances, paucity of time in his life is a given . <br /><br />But then the great dancer who, along with wife and dancer Radha, forms one of India’s most celebrated dancer-couples is used to challenges. <br /><br />The two have performed together at prestigious venues worldwide and also before many world leaders including the US President and the President of Cuba. They have the distinction of being the first Indian dancers to have been invited to perform at the International Dance Festival at Avignon in France and Salzburg in Austria. <br /><br />Their tours of Europe, UK and USA have also been greeted with standing ovations. <br />And to think that this powerhouse-dancer was actually told by the first dance guru whom he approached, that his physique and face were not suited to dance! “But then I did not lose hope. I approached another guru and worked with a single-minded zeal. For success in anything, you need abiding self-confidence, a fierce courage of conviction in your ideals and choices, and relentless hard work,” reveals Raja.<br /><br />His wife Radha, a highly accomplished dancer too, is known for her quiet, unflagging pursuit of perfection. “For us dance is like yoga, a devotional ritual and our very life itself,” she says. <br /><br />Currently, Raja Reddy is busy finalising arrangements for the Kuchipudi festival. Though there is a team at hand comprising administrators, dancers, dance-teachers and many renowned personalities, Raja has been assigned some major responsibilities. <br /><br />He will also enforce quality control and says, “We are going to ensure high standards in everything that takes place throughout the three days––whether a performance, discussion, or lecture.” <br /><br />He is also choreographing four special items for this event which will be presented by him, Radha, and their two children Yamini and Bhavana. The combination of lasya and thandava elements gives Kuchipudi a unique distinction as a classical-dance form, he explains, and this is what the items will project. <br /><br />He and the team are designing workshops, lecture-demonstrations, performances and more to offer a comprehensive overview of the dance-style of Kuchipudi and convey its depth and greatness as an art form. <br /><br />The convention will bring out the various elements that have gone to make up Kuchipudi––Yakshagana, Devaganika , Bhagavatham, street-plays, etc. Dance-dramas like Prahlada Charitra, Bhama Kalapam, Sasirekha Parinyam have tremendous appeal. <br /><br />The Kuchipudi convention will focus on the youth as it is they who inherit and carry forward traditions. As Raja puts it: “Dance is like a river with the old water constantly flowing out into the sea and fresh water coming in. But the banks remain unchanged. The banks have to exist because without them there is no river. <br /><br />Likewise, classical dance has to keep evolving but only within the boundaries of tradition. There must be uncompromising adherence to classicism.” <br /><br /></p>.<p>The grand finale of the three-day event will be a unique group performance by about 2,000 classical dancers. They will perform an 11-minute Thillana in Hindola Ragam composed and choreographed by Kuchipudi legend Vempati Chinna Satyam. The moving force behind this forthcoming international convention is art-lover, USA-based Anand Kuchibhotla. This NRI management professional has a great passion for Indian classical music and dance. And he translates that enthusiasm into concrete work for the cause. Last year, he organised a world-record breaking event where about 1.6 lakh people came together to sing 16th-century, saint-composer Annamacharya’s lyrics in Hyderabad. It immediately earned an entry into the Guinness World Records book. Anand also won much gratitude and praise from classical-music lovers. <br /><br />Anand is a man with a mission: “I believe in celebrating the past for the benefit of the future. Through such events, I want the youth to imbibe the spirit and fundamentals of our classical arts and pursue them with passion.” <br /><br />Anand is arranging a rehearsal of this grand group dance on the morning of the finale not only to ensure the vital synchronisation but also formation and placements––at least as perfect as they can get with that brief a practice. <br /><br />“We hope to have the event beamed live into 100 million households via television. And the audience present at the venue Gachibowli stadium will be about 40,000-strong.” Thus Anand hopes to bust the myth that in India, only cricket and cinema can draw vast audiences. It will be one big triumph for Indian classical dance if even the uninitiated can see pure dance forms in all their splendour.</p>
<p>Kuchipudi icon Raja Reddy is busy preparing for the second International Kuchipudi Dance Convention at Hyderabad, when we call him for an interview. Considering he is a vital part of the event which begins on December 24 and lasts till December 26 and also brings together five generations of performers, about 4,000 artistes and dance-lovers for a series of workshops, lecture-demonstrations and performances, paucity of time in his life is a given . <br /><br />But then the great dancer who, along with wife and dancer Radha, forms one of India’s most celebrated dancer-couples is used to challenges. <br /><br />The two have performed together at prestigious venues worldwide and also before many world leaders including the US President and the President of Cuba. They have the distinction of being the first Indian dancers to have been invited to perform at the International Dance Festival at Avignon in France and Salzburg in Austria. <br /><br />Their tours of Europe, UK and USA have also been greeted with standing ovations. <br />And to think that this powerhouse-dancer was actually told by the first dance guru whom he approached, that his physique and face were not suited to dance! “But then I did not lose hope. I approached another guru and worked with a single-minded zeal. For success in anything, you need abiding self-confidence, a fierce courage of conviction in your ideals and choices, and relentless hard work,” reveals Raja.<br /><br />His wife Radha, a highly accomplished dancer too, is known for her quiet, unflagging pursuit of perfection. “For us dance is like yoga, a devotional ritual and our very life itself,” she says. <br /><br />Currently, Raja Reddy is busy finalising arrangements for the Kuchipudi festival. Though there is a team at hand comprising administrators, dancers, dance-teachers and many renowned personalities, Raja has been assigned some major responsibilities. <br /><br />He will also enforce quality control and says, “We are going to ensure high standards in everything that takes place throughout the three days––whether a performance, discussion, or lecture.” <br /><br />He is also choreographing four special items for this event which will be presented by him, Radha, and their two children Yamini and Bhavana. The combination of lasya and thandava elements gives Kuchipudi a unique distinction as a classical-dance form, he explains, and this is what the items will project. <br /><br />He and the team are designing workshops, lecture-demonstrations, performances and more to offer a comprehensive overview of the dance-style of Kuchipudi and convey its depth and greatness as an art form. <br /><br />The convention will bring out the various elements that have gone to make up Kuchipudi––Yakshagana, Devaganika , Bhagavatham, street-plays, etc. Dance-dramas like Prahlada Charitra, Bhama Kalapam, Sasirekha Parinyam have tremendous appeal. <br /><br />The Kuchipudi convention will focus on the youth as it is they who inherit and carry forward traditions. As Raja puts it: “Dance is like a river with the old water constantly flowing out into the sea and fresh water coming in. But the banks remain unchanged. The banks have to exist because without them there is no river. <br /><br />Likewise, classical dance has to keep evolving but only within the boundaries of tradition. There must be uncompromising adherence to classicism.” <br /><br /></p>.<p>The grand finale of the three-day event will be a unique group performance by about 2,000 classical dancers. They will perform an 11-minute Thillana in Hindola Ragam composed and choreographed by Kuchipudi legend Vempati Chinna Satyam. The moving force behind this forthcoming international convention is art-lover, USA-based Anand Kuchibhotla. This NRI management professional has a great passion for Indian classical music and dance. And he translates that enthusiasm into concrete work for the cause. Last year, he organised a world-record breaking event where about 1.6 lakh people came together to sing 16th-century, saint-composer Annamacharya’s lyrics in Hyderabad. It immediately earned an entry into the Guinness World Records book. Anand also won much gratitude and praise from classical-music lovers. <br /><br />Anand is a man with a mission: “I believe in celebrating the past for the benefit of the future. Through such events, I want the youth to imbibe the spirit and fundamentals of our classical arts and pursue them with passion.” <br /><br />Anand is arranging a rehearsal of this grand group dance on the morning of the finale not only to ensure the vital synchronisation but also formation and placements––at least as perfect as they can get with that brief a practice. <br /><br />“We hope to have the event beamed live into 100 million households via television. And the audience present at the venue Gachibowli stadium will be about 40,000-strong.” Thus Anand hopes to bust the myth that in India, only cricket and cinema can draw vast audiences. It will be one big triumph for Indian classical dance if even the uninitiated can see pure dance forms in all their splendour.</p>
