Delhi lass promotes kuchipudi

New Delhi, May 16 (IANS) Determined to revive one of the oldest forms of Indian classical dance -- kuchipudi -- Delhi girl Atisha Pratap Singh has been going places across India and abroad, staging mesmerising performances.

"We must protect our heritage. We have been promoting our culture by performing at different places. I, along with my gurus, have performed in different countries such as France and Singapore over the past few years. I performed at a 'Namaste France' concert in Paris last year," the 17-year-old told IANS after staging her first solo performance -- Rangapravesham -- at the Kamani auditorium here on Monday.

Atisha, the daughter of Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy and Neelam Rudy, has been learning kuchipudi from renowned choreographers Raja-Radha Reddy and Kaushalya Reddy for 13 years. She has been travelling with her gurus nationally and internationally as an integral part of their production house.

"We have been travelling together at different places for several years for the promotion of kuchipudi across the world. Such performances help promoting the dance form among youngsters," Atisha's guru, Kaushalya Reddy, said.

During the dance-drama, inaugurated by Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Atisha began her performance with 'Ganapati Vandana' and went on to present as many as five items. The kuchipudi dancer displayed a graceful performance using fast and complex rhythmic footwork, vivid hand gestures and powerful facial expressions.

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