ISBN10: 8170173590, ISBN13: 9788170173595, [publisher: Abhinav] Hardcover Contents: Preface. 1. Origin and history. 2. Natya. 3. Bhagavata Mela Nataka, Vithi Bhagavatam, Turpubani Vidhi Natakam, Navajanardana Parijatam.4. Nritya. 5. Nritta. 6. Music. 7. Guru Parampara. 8. Exponents. Acknowledgements. Index. "One of the seven major classical dance forms of India, Kuchipudi in its solo avatara has acquired a status of a classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh. The story of Kuchipudi from its origin as a dance-drama and its emergence as a solo dance form is one of the most fascinating phenomena engaging attention of the gurus, the performing dancers and the research scholars. "Essentially a preserve of the male dancers, who also excelled in the female roles, today Kuchipudi is being mainly performed by the female dancers. However, the tradition continues to survive in Kuchipudi village, some 30 kilometres away from Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. The traditional dance-dramas continue to exist along with more popular solo dance form. Kuchipudi has innumerable votaries not only in India but also abroad and their number is ever increasing. "Padma Shri Dr. Sunil Kothari, dance historian, scholar and critic, traces in this volume the origins of the dance-drama tradition, correlating the prayoga, the practice and the shastra, the theory and how from the natya, the drama, its integral elements nritya, expressional dance and nritta, the pure dance in the hands of ...