Q. How did your journey with Kuchipudi begin?
A: Well, I don’t know how to put it as a journey. It all happened ten years back, I was in the 5th standard and I always loved dancing. It wasn’t kuchipudi as such because I come from a Christian background, and Classical dance wasn’t something that was introduced to me by my family. It so happened that I was at my Father’s Office in Habsiguda(Hyderabad
Q. How important a role does your family play in this successful journey of yours?
A: According to me, Family plays a very important role in anything you do in life, dancing in particular. I say this because I have seen a lot of people give up this art form because of lack of family support. In a lot of families, people are against dance itself, because of the elements of its past, like the Devadasi system, where girls used to dance in temples, or the mujras of the north etc. Thus for a lot of reasons people don’t appreciate classical dance. Thus Family support is very important. Even more so, because like every other field, even this one has a lot of politics, and other testing times. I consider myself very lucky to have had the support of my family at all times. Before, I realised my interest in dance, my parents realised it. Not just my parents but also my extended family, my grandparents, my uncles and aunts, they always came for all my shows. I’ve been very lucky that way. On a scale of 1 to 100, I would give them 101.
Q. Tell us some more about your Guru, and do tell us that which feature of hers inspires you the most.
A: I learnt my basics from Mr.Raghavachary and later pursued dance under the tutelage Mrs. Krishna Bharathi for five years.
My present guru is Dr. Anupama Kailash, she holds a PhD in Classical Dance. She is very young compared to other gurus in the city. She’s a very easy person to deal with, especially for youngsters, because she comes down to our level, she thinks at our level and then interacts. She’s very different from the usual traditional gurus, even the way she teaches is different from the traditional way of teaching dance. The way she tries to relate things to us, especially when she is choreographing, or when she’s teaching she makes it a little more interesting. Best thing about her is that she makes us understand the meaning of what we’re dancing, the theory and everything. I truly love her for everything that I have learnt from her.
One thing that I really admire about her is her creativity. It is very evident when we see a work of hers, that there is always something different, something new in it. She puts in a lot of effort to do something different from the same old items, and dances. She is able to relate to the happenings around us today, and put that into the dance form. She’s very contemporary, and a thinking dancer.
Q. What do you mean by a thinking dancer?
A: Well, It means that she always takes some time to do a proper research about the topic, and theory upon which she is to perform, and then choreographs. For example, two years back we did this ballet called ‘Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum’. Even before she started the choreography, she took about 2-3 months to do some research about Lord Krishna, and thus many unknown aspects of Krishna were brought out in that ballet. A Lot of theory has gone into it, not only the dance, but also the lyrics and vocal aspect. I don’t say that such dancers are completely absent, but such people are very few.
Q. You’ve had the rare opportunity of performing with a doyen of Kuchipudi like Dr. Swapnasundari. How much do you value that opportunity, and how has it impacted your dance?
A: Well, Dr.Swapnasundari garu is an amazing person. She is full of knowledge, a fantastic choreographer, and dancer and you could say that there is an aura of knowledge radiating from her. The first time that I met her, I was scared, because it was very evident that she is a Padmabhushan. She knows what she’s worth and proud of it too. That’s one of the things that I learnt from her. I had taken part in a ballet choreographed by her, and it was a very different experience from what I was used to with my Guru. The training sessions were vigorous, and that’s another thing I learnt, that no matter how big or great dancer you may become, training and practice are very important. We were with her for a month, and we would practice for at least 3-4 hours every day. She also gave us a piece to choreograph on our own, which was a great experience. We can also just watch her perform and learn. Her abhinaya(expressions) and her footwork is simply amazing. It was an amazing experience in totality, and I feel very lucky to have gotten this opportunity. I give the credit to my Guru for giving me the opportunity; it was through her that I was introduced to Dr.Swapnasundari garu.
Q. IS there anything in your life that you would like to unlearn?
A: Nothing. I’m happy with everything I have learnt, and experienced. I think that it was necessary for me to see both the good and bad aspects of things; otherwise I wouldn’t appreciate what I have. Witnessing the politics in the field, being pushed back, being called arrogant at the age of fourteen , are some of the things that I have been through, but even they have taught me a thing or two. I appreciate what I have, more now because of everything that I have experienced. I’m also happy that I learnt even some of the wrong things in dance, because, now, I look back and laugh at all that. I’m happy about everything that I have done.
Q. That’s a great attitude to carry forward in life. I also know that you’re not only an accomplished dancer, but also a Veena artiste, are you also learning Nattuvangam?
A: I will be training very soon in Nattuvangam also, as I take classes at home now. Dance is an integral part of my future and hence I will learn everything that is related to dance.
Q. You’re also teaching Kuchipudi at Tarnaka(Hyderabad
A: I do enjoy teaching; it’s something that I’ve always enjoyed doing. I think it’s something that runs in my blood because both my mother and my maternal grandmother were teachers. I like sharing what little I know, and I thoroughly enjoy it.
Q. Be it being a meritorious student, a successful dancer, or a veena artiste, you’ve been there and done that. How do you manage to strike that perfect balance?
A: I don’t really know, I just do things as they come. When I’m doing a particular thing, I give it my 100%. I don’t do half baked things. We have 24 hours a day, just divide your day and give each part your 100%. The most important thing of all is Interest, and dedication. If you have the interest to do it, you will automatically give your 100% to it.
Q. What is your most defining moment?
A: There are quite a few of them, but I think that the most emotional one of them was when I did my Arangetram(Ranga Pravesham) in my 9th standard. I was to propose the vote of thanks, and I broke down while thanking my parents. That has been recorded in a lot of people’s minds and many even remember me that way till this day. That was the day when I realised how lucky I was to have such amazing parents
There was this school competition which I participated in, when I was in my 6th standard. It was the first time I was dancing on stage and the whole experience of getting dressed up and dancing excited me a lot. My mom at the back of her mind wanted me to win. I won the competition, and my mother was in tears.
Also, meeting so many people, artistes, being honoured and appreciated after a program.
There are many small things like this. I’m a very happy person. I’m happy with a lot of things in life. Every time I see a smile on my parent’s faces when I achieve something.
Q. As a Dancer of today, what’re your main concerns?
A: I just hope that more thinking dancers come into existence, and not stick to same old things. For instance, the way we dress in Kuchipudi, and the synchronization is not great. That’s probably one of the reasons why, when we go out of Andhra or India, Bharatnatyam is more widely known. It’s not that we don’t have it in us to be that way, but we’re just content with what we have. Thus people of our age, should try and make the effort , as it is equal to Bharatnatyam in every way.
Q. Besides, Kuchipudi, and Veena what are your other hobbies?
A: I love reading, its something I’ve started doing off late. I love spending time with my family, I’m a very family person. I love sleeping and eating. I’m like any other teenager, who loves doing the regular stuff.
Q. What is the scene in the dancing arena for other upcoming artistes?
A: It’s very good as long as you have your family’s support, a good Guru, dedication, and the readiness to face some politics. I think the opportunities are going to improve specially in Kuchipudi, as no one is ready to stand in the background for long. Everyone wants to take the centre stage. Things are definitely going to be better.
Q. What are your future plans?
A: Academically, I would want to continue with my MSc. When it comes to dance, I’m done with my BA in dance, and I wish to do my MA. Right now this is it; whatever happens later shall be seen.