Saving the sanctity of Kuchipudi

Guru sishya parampara is almost a destroyed tradition in India. Not only in classical dance, but also in other areas, we are losing this tradition.The onslaught of television and internet is destroying the age-old tradition of guru sishya parampara. Nowadays, students just record the item and practice at home, says the leading kuchipudi danseuse Swathi Somanath of Andhra Pradesh, founder director of well-known dance institution Nritya Bharathi in Hyderabad.

With high academic qualifications, including Masters in performing arts (kuchipudi), she has several awards and titles to her credit. Swathi has received ‘best kuchipudi dancer’ award from former Vice-President of India, late Sri Krishna Kant. ‘Nirtya kaushal’ was conferred upon her by M Chenna Reddy, Former Governor of Tamil Nadu. This gave her the motivation to excel in the field and receive several coveted awards in india.

Her uniqueness in presentation

I do not believe in separating art from the artiste. The presentation should reflect the artiste’s feelings and emotions. I focus on exclusive imagery, movements, and lighting effects. Recently, my revolutionary ballet ‘hindutva’, revealing the conflict between sanathana dharma and Hinduism and how it is an appendage to Christianity, gave me an opportunity to address issues which the  society is facing.

She is emphatic

I can definitely proclaim that draupadi kama sutra and hindutva are reflections of my attitude, towards contemporary society. These are my fundamental reactions to certain situations and reflect my character and temperament.

She is certainly a revolutionist and her dancing ballet on kamasutra, based on vatsayana, though was spurned by many orthodox dancers for the alleged depiction of sringara on stage, it won the appreciation of the rasikas.

Landmark performances abroad

I have performed in several countries (more than 20) on invitation from various institutions abroad and the ICCR. The presentation I cherish the most is the one at the Prime Minister’s Summit of India, Brazil and South Africa meet.

Her unforgettable choreography

I have choreographed more than 100 solo dance items and several kuchipudi dance and dramas, including sharnam govindam and soundarya darshana life of ramanuja. My presentation sarvagnya shankara was based on the life of Adi Shankara, him proving the tenets of sanatana dharma, sat sange nissangathvam that with the right company one can achieve anything in life.  However, my best performance-oriented ballet is draupadi beginning from swayamvara and ending with mahaprasthanam.

You seem to be wearing too many hats in the cultural arena

I am a member of the Central Audition Board for kuchipudi, dance, New Delhi, and earlier, I was a member of the National Film Censor Board, and several film award committees. I have also been serving as the principal, College of Music and Dance at Hyderabad.

Plan on restoring tradition

I am constructing a farm house at my father’s village at Dusi, in a two acre land. I have built a beautiful dance hall in sylvan surroundings to retain archival cultural references so that the right mode of ‘gurukulam’ training is imparted free of charge. This will be my sincere tribute to kuchipudi.