Baithak: Ashta Nayika {Kuchipudi Dancers}

Kuchipudi Dancers

The two Kuchipudi dancers, Sneha Babu and Sumi Rao will be presenting Nayika pieces from their Kuchipudi repertoire. Which of the 8 would they perform? Come watch on Feb 8th 2020!

All 8 pieces deal with EIGHT conditions (awastha) of the heroine with respect to their hero, as prescribed within the Natyashastra by Bharata muni. 2 of these pieces will be portrayed by the dancers. Bios below:

Sneha Babu

Sneha Babu, is the younger daughter and disciple of Guru Lakshmi Babu at Kuchipudi Dance Academy. She has been learning Kuchipudi for 18 years and counting. Sneha’s passion for dance has allowed her to perform at several events through her life nationally and internationally. She is a three time Guinness World Record recipient and participant at the Kuchipudi convention. In 2017, Sneha travelled to India to launch KDA’s first dance video under a new producing banner, Lasyam. In college, Sneha led her dance team Penn State Natya as team captain where they won first place at their intercollegiate national dance competition. Sneha continues to play a pivotal role at KDA being a constant support to her mom. Sneha recently graduated from Penn State with a degree in Information Sciences and Technology.

Sumi Rao

Sumi started Kuchipudi at the age of 4 under the guidance of Guru Smt. Mrinalini Sadananda at Kalamandapam VA. With her natural flair for dance, she gave her Rangapravesam (Nrithya Sambhavana) at the age of 13 in 2017. She has performed extensively, all around the DMV area, and has more than 60 solo performances to her practice over the last few years. Sumi has won and placed first at various dance competitions in the area and also was the 2019 National award winner at the Silicon Andhra Annamayya contest in CA this past September. She also gave a solo Kuchipudi performance in September 2018 in Chennai under the Gana Mukundha Priya sabha.
Sumi also learns Bharatanatyam and performs extensively with her Guru Shanthi Ashok in VA and will give her arangetram in the Fall of 2020. She is currently a sophomore at Chantilly High.

She is showcased here on the website.

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Check the other dancers out here