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 Kuchipudi solo by child prodigy Akshita Singh Thakur - Tapati Chowdhurie e-mail: tapatichow@yahoo.co.in February 12, 2025 At a young age, Amrita Singh has emerged to be a worthy Kuchipudi performer and teacher, by the sheer dint of her talent and single-mindedness. She is one, who as a child, could not differentiate between Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Dance for her was simply moving to the rhythm of music. However, everything changed when Amrita was in fifth grade when she happened to stumble upon a picture of Kuchipudi exponent Sobha Naidu in a magazine. The dazzling makeup and exquisite jewelry captivated her instantly. It was a moment when she decided to pursue dance just to be bedecked and bejeweled. In an informal chat with yours truly she said, "Determined to learn from the source of my inspiration, I began my journey, finally connecting with Sobha Naidu ma'am 14 years ago. And so, my dance odyssey commenced."  Amrita Singh In her own words, "My Guru was renowned for her expressive Kuchipudi style. Her dance emphasized abhinaya and featured intricate footwork with rapid rhythms. Grace and femininity were hallmarks of her style. She recognized her students' unique body shapes and she taught us to adapt to the style that suits us best. She encouraged us to experiment in front of the mirror to find what looked and felt natural. Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam was known for his strong, masculine energy, which my teacher skillfully incorporated with her own feminine approach. Interestingly, Vempati Master often choreographed items differently for each student, recognizing their individual strengths and styles. As a result, while we learned from the same master, our choreography often had a distinct feminine quality compared to other students. Despite dancing independently now, I still feel deeply connected to my Guru. I often watch her recorded performances for guidance and practice in front of her picture, as if she were observing me directly. My twelve years of training under her guidance was in a strict Gurukul system. She not only imparted to me the art of Kuchipudi dance but also instilled valuable life lessons, shaping me into the person I am today. In essence, she was more than just a dance teacher; she was a Guru who illuminated the path of life for me. Even though I teach Kuchipudi dance now, I still see myself as a student. When I teach my students, I actively participate in the learning process, practicing alongside them to ensure we all achieve perfection together. While I consider myself more of a performer than a teacher, I feel a deep responsibility to pass on the knowledge I received from my Guru to the next generation of dancers. I haven't encountered any difficulties balancing teaching and performing. When I am on my dance tours, my senior students guide the juniors, ensuring continuity in their training. I don't consider myself a 'Guru' in the traditional sense, but rather I am a mentor who strives to guide and support my students in their dance journey. I have a strong desire to perform more frequently at dance festivals and create innovative Kuchipudi dance choreographies. For example, my recent Tillana incorporated Rabindra Sangeet lyrics and Hindustani ragas, showcasing a unique fusion. I have many more such creative ideas brewing, which I plan to bring to life through performances with my students. I dream of establishing a large dance academy where students can live, learn, and immerse themselves fully in the art of dance. Although the realization of this dream will take time, I am working towards making it a reality."   Akshita Singh Thakur Amrita Singh's institution Kuchipudi Kalamritam recently presented a solo recital by Akshita Singh Thakur at Saptaparni in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. Akshita is a child prodigy. It is little wonder that teacher Amrita Singh should stretch to break barriers to present her young student in a solo recital. Starting with Ganesh Pancharatnam in Ragamalika and adi talam - choreographed by Guru Sobha Naidu - she went on to perform Shivastakam in ragam Mohanam and khandachapu talam - choreographed by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam; Krishna Shabdam, a choreographic work of Guru Chinna Satyam; Lakshmi Pravesham in ragams Vasantha and Sahana and talam adi, composed by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, concluding her recital with a Tillana in Miya ki Malhar raag composed by Amrita Singh to a Rabindra Sangeet "Neelo anjana ghana punjo chayay sambrito ambar hey gambhir" about the rainy season performed during the ‘Varsha Mangal' celebrations in Santiniketan. The Tillana was a fusion of Carnatic system and Hindustani music. The experiment was bold and praiseworthy. Interspersed with perfectly rendered pure dance and lyrics, Akshita was flawless. What was most impressive about Akshita was her mastery over the Kuchipudi idiom. Her angasudhi is remarkable. She cannot be critiqued for falling short in her abhinaya, because she has to mature to express the feelings of Krishna's lover. With time, she will excel in that area too. Here is a promising dancer, who will in future, make it big.  Tapati Chowdhurie trained under Guru Gopinath in Madras and was briefly with International Centre for Kathakali in New Delhi. Presently, she is a freelance writer on the performing arts. She is the author of 'Guru Gopinath: The Making of a Legend.' |
