Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam
The name of Maestro Vempati Chinna Satyam and the word Kuchipudi are almost
synonyms
nowadays. This man holds the merit in spreading Kuchipudi style in India and in
the whole world.
Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam was born in the village of Kuchipudi in 1929 in one of
the 15 traditional Brahman families whose profession was dance. Nine generations
of his ancestors dedicated their lives to Kuchipudi, and Vempati followed the
way of tradition. He became a student of the legendary Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana
Shastra and adopted his innovating ideas. He was overfilled with desire to carry
Kuchipudi out of the limits of traditional village and bring it to a new level.
At the age of 18 Vempati headed for Madras, the cultural centre of the Southern
India. Having come through many difficulties and after achieving the recognition,
in 1963 he founded "Kuchipudi Art Academy" and trained more than 1000 students.
Among them were such legendary dancers as Vijantimala, Jamini Krishnamurti,
Manju Bagavi, Shobha Naidu, Hemma Malini, Kamadev and others.
Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam gave about 3000 performances in India and abroad,
composed circa 180 solo dances and set up 17 dance dramas. Besides he
systematized Kuchipudi, gave it a new more perfect form without prejudice to the
original purity of dance.
For the performances of his first ballets "Krishna Parijatam" and "Kshira Sagara
Madanam" and for playing main roles in them Vempati was awarded with a hailstorm
of applause from the public and by approvals from critics. He made his first
overseas tour in 1971 to England and France. Then followed South America, The
Caribbean, The USA, Russia, Canada, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands. Together
with his troupe Maestro traveled all over the world and wherever he was his
wonderful choreography and brilliant style received the highest marks.
Thus, his old dream of Kuchipudi's recognition as a classic style and spreading
it all over India and abroad came true. The whole world opened its doors before
Maestro. A great number of his students from all over the world founded schools
in their countries where they continue their Master's work by opening the
wonderful world of Kuchipudi to people.
The studio of Indian classic dance "Ananda Tandava"
under the guidance of Eleonora Levanskaya is one of
such schools of the second generation.
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