Looking to revive Kuchipudi, the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to set up an academy dedicated exclusively to the promotion of the iconic dance form both at home and abroad.
The state government has proposed to build the 'Kuchipudi Natyaramam' (Kuchipudi dance academy) at Kuchipudi village in Krishna district in coastal Andhra, where the dance form was born more than six centuries ago.
Anand Kuchibhotla, an NRI who has been working for the promotion of Telugu language and culture through his US-based organisation 'Silicon Andhra', has been appointed as the chairman of the Natyaramam.
Silicon Andhra had entered the Guinness World Records in 2012 for organising the largest Kuchipudi event in Hyderabad comprising 5,794 participants.
"Kuchipudi came down from generation to generation through the 'guru-sishya' tradition. Over the years, the legends created certain standards and patterns. But in the present times, it has to compete and fight against several other activities...
"We observed over the last six years that by holding an international Kuchipudi convention, we were able to bring the excitement back among the youth. If we create the right environment, the youth are ready to turn to Kuchipudi," Anand told PTI here.
The proposed Natyaramam is to have six functional divisions -- collection and preservation, research, teaching, publication, recognition of artistes, and exhibition.
"We would like to build the Natyaramam with the intention that the people who visit, the elders, should feel that they need to get their youngsters take up Kuchipudi. Youngsters should feel that they must imbibe the art form," said Anand, who last week took over as the chairman of Natyaramam.
Ruing the absence of any proper archiving or preservation of material -- either the 'Yaksha Ganam' or other aspects of the dance form -- he said it was high time that such an initiative was taken up.
