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AN INSTITUTION FOR KUCHIPUDI AND TEMPLE DANCES
 
DISCIPLES
 
 
: PROFILE :
"HAMSA (Kalaratna)" awardee Smt. Voleti Rangamani is the daughter of Guru late Sreeman C. R. Acharya, an internationally renowned and dedicated Guru of Kuchipudi' and temple dances and an acknowledged authority  in Karnaas, Tandavams and  Prenkhini  Natyams in which  the  dancer  forms  the  holy  portraits  with footwork. Sreeman C. R. Acharya has brought back this ancient culture to lime light after conducting a rigorous research on this subject. His daughter,Voleti Rangamani was closely associated in his research work.
Took training in Kuchipudi dance from a very early age of 4 years, under the able guidance of her father Sreeman C.R. Acharyulu.

 

Underwent rigorous training under Bhrahmasri Vendantham Prahlada Sharma at Eluru and obtained proficiency in traditional Kuchipudi repertoire.
Obtained advanced training in Devalaya Aaradhana Nrityams under her father Sreeman C.R.Acharyulu.
She was closely associated with the research work of her father in bringing back to lime light, the ancient culture of Prenkhini Natyams (Devalaya Aaradhana Nrityas) in which the dancer forms the pictures of LION - a Vaahana of Goddess Kali, Peacock - a Vaahana of Kumaraswamy, LOTUS - a symbol of Goddess Laxmidevi, with footwork.
Adopted the unique style of Brahmashree Vedantham Laxminarayana Shastry, the doyen and revered Guru of 20th century of Kuchipudi and temple dances and also respected Guru of her father Sriman C.R. Acharyulu.
Gave a number of performances on the stage from the early childhood at various places in Andhra Pradesh,Maharashtra and Gujarat.
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: INSTITUTION :
Abhinaya Darpana Arts Academy, an institute for Kuchipudi and temple ritual dances, was established during 1980 and imparted training to several dancers from India and abroad.Established "Simhanandini Charitable Trust " during 1998 with the sole objective of extending financial assistance to the needy and aged Gurus of Kuchipudi dance. She is propagating the Prenkhini Natyams, the unique picture painting dances throughout the world.Her students and troupe members are successfully performing these items throughout India and abroad. The performances of her students were highlight wherever they perform.
                                                       Some of the Desciples of Smt Voleti Rangamani
 
Mrs D. Rekha Madan :
 

Mrs.Rekha Madan is the daughter of Mrs Voleti Rangamani and the grand daughter of Guru late C. R. Acharya of international fame. Hereditarily acquired talent has helped her in learning the dance items fast. Within a very short period she has become proficient Kuchipudi dancer. She has participated in almost all the programmes, conducted by her mother Mrs Voleti Rangamani. Also she has participated in the workshops and seminars of her mother. She has performed key roles in several ballets.She has performed temple ritual dances, Simhanandini, Mayurakauthvam, Mahalaxmi Udbhavam, several times at various places in Hyderabad and other parts of the country. She has also performed these items in Singapore and received standing ovation for her performance.

Mrs  S. Shilpa :

 

Mrs S. Shilpa has studied M.C.A. and presently working as Software professional in U.S.A.She is one of the senior most disciples of Smt Voleti Rangamani and also an expert dancer. She has started learning Kuchipudi dance from Mrs Voleti Rangamani at a tender age of 6. Astonishingly, she has learnt most of the fundamental as well as advanced items within a very short time. She has created a record by learning and performing unique temple dance item “Simhanandini” when she was just 10 years old. Her histrionic expressions are her asset while performing dance.She has given nearly 500 performances at Hyderabad and other parts of the country including Andaman and Nicobar island.. She has created record by performing nearly 300 dance performances of temple dance items,  Simhanandini, Mayurakauthvam and Mahalaxmi Udbhavam.Presently she is giving performances in U.S.A. also.

Miss M. Bhargavi :

 

She has completed her engineering degree, B. Tech, and at present she is fully involved in dance career. She has started learning Kuchipudi dance from Mrs Voleti Rangamani at an early age of 6 years. She has attained proficiency in almost all the solo Kuchipudi dance items, dance ballets, temple dances such as Simhanandini, Mayura Kauthvam and number of other specialized dance items, taught by Smt Voleti Rangamani. She has given several dance performances at Hyderabad and other parts of the country such as Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vijag, Chennai, Mysore, Bangalore, Yadigirigutta etc. along with the troupe of Smt Voleti Rangamani.

Miss M. Pavani :

 

Miss M. Pavani is studying final year M. B. B. S. She has started learning Kuchipudi dance from Mrs Voleti Rangamani at an early age of 5 years. She has attained proficiency in almost all the solo Kuchipudi dance items, dance ballets, temple ritual dances such as Simhanandini, Mayura Kauthvam and number of other specialized dance items, taught by Smt Voleti Rangamani. In spite of her busy schedule in medical college, she is very much concentrating in the classical dance field.She has given several dance performances at Hyderabad and other parts of the country such as Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vijag, Chennai, Mysore, Bangalore, Yadigirigutta etc. along with the troupe of Smt Voleti Rangamani

Miss  M. Maheswari :

 

Miss M. Maheswari is studying final year M.C.A. at Hyderabad.She has started learning Kuchipudi dance from Mrs Voleti Rangamani at an early age of 6 years. She has attained proficiency in almost all the solo Kuchipudi dance items, dance ballets, temple dances such as Simhanandini, Mayura Kauthvam and number of other specialized dance items, taught by Smt Voleti Rangamani.She has given several dance performances at Hyderabad and other parts of the country such as Vijayawada, Eluru, Rajahmundry, Vijag, Chennai, Mysore, Bangalore, Yadigirigutta etc. along with the troupe of Smt Voleti Rangamani

Mr M. S. Ramanujam :

 

Mr M. S. Ramanujam is one of the senior most disciples of Mrs Voleti Rangamani. He is working as an Engineer in South Central Railways. In spite of his busy schedule in his proffession, he is very much attached to his dance career. He has become disciple of Mrs Voleti Rangamani when he was 10 years old. Dance is a birth gift for him and within a very short time he became a proficient male dancer.He has participated in several dance ballets as main participant. He has also learnt temple ritual dances, Simhanandini, Mayura Kauthvam and Mahalaxmi Udbhavam. from Mrs Voleti Rangamani and performed these items several times at Hyderabad and other parts of the country. He has also performed Simhanandini and Mayura Kauthvam at Singapore and received standing ovation for his performance.

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      :  SPECIALIZATIONS :

Among Kuchipudi Natya Shastra Items, the major items include: Different types of Sabdams, Varnams, Tarangams, Javalis, Padams, Tillanas, Mandodari shabadam.
.........................................................Among the Ballets are............................................................
Alamelu Manga Vilasam
Gajendra Moksham
Bhama Kalapam
Gollakalapam
Tarakasura  Samharam
Girija Kalyanam
Kumara  Sambhavam
JayaJaya  Durge
Mahishasura  Mardini
Devanarthaki
Manava! Manava? etc.
...........................................................................Among the temple dance items are ................................................................
The Saptatandavas, namely
Ardhanarishwara Tandavam
Ananda Tandavam
Samhara or Rudra Tandavam
Sakthi Tandavam
Sandhya Tandavam
Sathi & Siva Tandavam
Tripura Tandavam
Prenkhini Natyams including Simhanandini Mayura Kauthvam and Sri Mahalaxmi Udbhavam.

"Simhanandini", "Mayura Kauthvam" and "Mahalaxmi Udbhavam" are temple ritual dances. During ancient time, temple dancers used to dance in front of the Rath, before the start of Rath Yathra on festive occasions and used to form the pictures of Vaahana of the temple deity with footwork on the color powder, spread in front the Rath. They used to form the pictures of Lion, Vaahana of Godess Durgadevi in Simhanandini dance, likewise picture of Peacock, Vaahana of Lord Kumaraswamy in Mayura Kauthvam dance and picture of Lotus, Aasan of Godess Laxmidevi in Mahalaxmi Udbhavam dance.After late C. R. Acharya, his daughter Smt Voleti Rangamani is the only dance Guru who is teaching these dances and her disciples are performing these dance items very successfully all over India and abroad

 
 
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