Our Founders
Drs. Raja Radha Reddy
World renowned dancing couple Raja and Radha Reddy have given a new dimension to the age old art of Kuchipudi dance without sacrificing the traditional poetry or dramatic sensibility. With rare excellence and perfection of technique they have earned the credit for Kuchipudi's high ranking among the major dance forms in India. They hail from the state of Andhra Pradesh, the birthplace of Kuchipudi style of Indian classical dance.
Though their togetherness and perfect unison, Raja and Radha Reddy portray the masculine vigor and lyrical charm of the classical pairs of Hindu mythology such as Shiva-Parvati, Rama-Sita and Krishna-Radha, thus identifying themselves with the twin concept of Purusha and Prakriti, the male-female principle in Indian philosophy. In precise postures and refined patterns, the duo re-enlivens the magnificent sculptures chiseled in the ancient temples of India.
The unique art of Raja and Radha Reddy has found befitting official recognition through the Padma Shree award in 1984 and the prestigious Sangeet Nataka Academy Award on 18th February 1992. They have also been awarded individually with the coveted Padma Bhushan Award in January, 2000. Raja Radha Reddy were decorated with Nritya Choodamani by the Krishna-Gáan Sabha of Madras in December, 1993. Already, in 1974, they had the honor of being invited as the first Indian dancers to participate in the International Dance Festival of Avignon in France and Salzburg in Austria. The couple’s contribution in the Festivals of India in the USA and the UK were considered outstanding. More recently, they were invited to declare open the ‘Play House’ theatre in Durban, South Africa for general public with their inaugural Kuchipudi performance. In July 1996, Raja and Radha Reddy were the star attraction of the All Star Ballet Gala festival in Japan. In November, 1996 they inaugurated the India Festival at Bangladesh with their performance.
Having themselves been trained by eminent Kuchipudi teachers like Sri Vedantam Prahlada Sarma and P.V.G. Krishna Sarma, Raja and Radha Reddy, in the true style of Guru-Shishya Parampara are engaged in passing on their art to young and promising pupils at their institution NATYA TARANGINI in New Delhi.
Kaushalya Reddy
Kuchipudi danseuse, Nattuvanaar (Conductor), Choreographer, Teacher and Compere par excellence, Kaushalya has emerged as one of the most talented artists of Kuchipudi, the world famous form of Indian classical dance.
Molded in the strict discipline and austere commitment of the Sidhendra Kalakshetra of the Kuchipudi village in Andhra Pradesh, and trained under the renowned dancers of world fame, VedantamRattiahSarma and Raja Radha Reddy’s strict supervision, Kaushalya today is the most identifiable face on the Kuchipudi dance stage. Gifted with a svelte figure, a beautiful and sensitive face, she has in abundance all that it takes to be a first rate danseuse.
She is a superb example of the union of a strong tradition with a willingness to enrich her art through intellect and aesthetics. She has been dancing since her childhood. Kaushalya has spurned many celluloid offers in favor of her dance career.
Kaushlaya has toured extensively all over the globe. The Correspondent of Dancing Times, London in one article on her dance aptly described and compared her with an ‘Apsara’ dancing in person on modern stage.
Apart from dancing, she has been conducting Raja and Radha Reddy’s Kuchipudi performances since over twenty years now and has also been teaching Kuchipudi dance to the younger generation of students at Natya Tarangini, the dance institution of Raja and Radha Reddy at New Delhi.
