It is double bonanza for inmates of the Scheduled Caste Welfare Hostel in this small village. Students, both boys and girls, from the district prefer to join the hostel, as they get to learn Kuchipudi dance along with their academics during their stay.
Their hostel and school - Sri Siddhartha ZP Oriental High School - are located on the same campus where Telugu University is running its dance academy – Sri Siddhendra Kuchipudi Kalakshetram (SSKK).
“On holidays and Sundays, we spend time at SSKK, where teachers impart lessons on the nuances of dance. Gradually, dancing has become part of our lives,” said M. Jyothi, a Class V student.
Like Jyothi, there are at least 45 inmates, pursuing their primary and high school education and learning ‘mudras’ and ‘abhinayas’ in Kuchipudi. “Many a time, we observe how our teachers dance. Watching is every important to add finesse to your performance,” say the young girls.
Renowned dance master Chinta Balakrishna gives his valuable tips to the young learners and help them understand the exquisiteness of the art. Earlier, renowned dancer and teacher Vedantam Radhe Shyam trained the inmates. Interestingly, the dance teachers at SSKK offer classes free of cost.
“Students at the hostel have an opportunity to undergo professional training once they complete their high school education. Those wishing to become dancers are always encouraged. Along with dance, we also teach Sanskrit,” says K. Ankala Rao, a dance teacher at Sri Siddhendra Zilla Parishad Oriental High School.
