Kuchipudi Narthana Diksoochi
A Structured Guide for the Four-Year Kuchipudi Certificate Course
Theory • Dance Concepts • Tradition • Practical Training
Kuchipudi Narthana Diksoochi is a structured guide designed to support the four-year Kuchipudi Certificate Course syllabus. Bringing together theoretical principles, dance concepts, traditional knowledge and practical training, the book serves as a useful study and teaching resource for both students and Gurus.
A Four-Year Journey in Kuchipudi
First Year – Building the Foundation
Theory
- Origin of Natya
- Definitions of Nritta, Nritya and Natya
- Lasya and Tandava
- Patra, Aapatra, Kinkini and Sabha
- Jati and Tala
- Tala Angas
- Sapta Talas
- Tala concepts and 35 Tala table
- Asamyuta Hastas
- Pada Karmas
Practical
- Adavus
- Teermanam
- Chaturasra, Tisra, Khanda, Misra and Sankirna Jatis
- Sapta Tala Nadas
- Traditional Adavus
- Traditional exercises
- Vinayaka Kauthvam
Foundation • Rhythm • Body Preparation • Basic Theory
02 — Second Year – Entering the World of Abhinaya
Theory
- Indian Dance and Classical Dance Traditions
- Samyuta Hastas
- Chaturvidha Abhinaya
- Dvadasha Hasta Pranas
- Authors of Natya Shastra
- Shiro Bhedas
- Drishti Bhedas
- Life of Sri Siddhendra Yogi
- Life of Sri Narayana Teertha
Practical
- Jatiswaram – Athana, Adi Tala
- Tuluva Rajendra Shabdam – Jhanuta
- Ramayana Shabdam
- Tarangam – Krishnaṃ Kalaya Sakhi
Hasta • Abhinaya • Repertoire • Tradition
03 — Third Year – From Bhava to Rasa
Theory
- Bhava
- Vibhava
- Anubhava
- Sthayi Bhava
- Sanchari / Vyabhichari Bhavas
- History of Kuchipudi Dance
- Bhamakalapam
- Yakshagana – Origin and Development
- Bhagavata Mela Natakas
- Navarasas
- Greeva Bhedas
- Bhru Bhedas
- Uttama, Madhyama and Adhama Nayikas
- Devata Hastas
Important Lives & Traditions
- Jayadeva Mahakavi
- Saint Tyagaraja
- The Kuchipudi Trinity:
- Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry
- Vempati Venkata Narayana
- Chinta Venkatramaiah
Practical
- Bhadrachala Ramadasu Keerthana
- Balagopala Krishna Tarangam
- Kshetrayya Padam
- Javali
- Sloka from Sri Krishna Karnamritam
- Manduka Shabdam – Gajendra Moksham
Bhava • Rasa • History • Abhinaya • Repertoire
04 — Fourth Year – Towards Artistic Maturity
Theory
- Sviya, Parakiya and Samanya Nayika Lakshanas
- Ashta Vidha Nayikas
- Dashavatara Hasta Lakshanas and Uses
- Lokadharmi and Natyadharmi
Lives of Great Composers & Poets
- Kshetrayya
- Bhadrachala Ramadasu
- Annamacharya
- Munipalle Subrahmanya Kavi
Practical
- Dashavatara Shabdam
- Annamayya Keerthana – Alamelumanga
- Sloka – Devi Stuti
- Daruvu – Koluvayitivaa
- Adhyatma Ramayana Keerthana – Namashivayate
Model Papers
Abhinaya • Nayika • Tradition • Advanced Repertoire
Theory and Practice — Together
Kuchipudi is not merely studied through theory or learned through practice alone. The two must grow together.
Kuchipudi Narthana Diksoochi brings together the theoretical and practical dimensions of Kuchipudi learning in a systematic four-year structure.
Theory
Natya Shastra → Abhinaya → Dance Concepts → History → Tradition → Literary Knowledge
Practical
Adavus → Jatis → Tala → Jatiswaram → Shabdam → Tarangam → Padam → Javali → Keerthana → Daruvu
What Makes This Book Useful?
📚 Structured Learning
Organised according to the four-year Certificate Course progression.
🕉️ Theoretical Foundation
Introduces important principles from the traditional dance texts and related concepts.
👣 Practical Training
Connects theoretical learning with practical Kuchipudi repertoire.
👨🏫 Teaching Resource
A useful reference for Gurus and teachers while planning and guiding students.
🎓 Student Reference
Helps students study their theory and practical components in one structured resource.
📜 Tradition & History
Includes Kuchipudi history, important personalities, traditional forms and related cultural knowledge.
Who Is This Book For?
🎓 Students
For students pursuing the four-year Kuchipudi Certificate Course.
👨🏫 Gurus & Teachers
For teaching, reference and systematic syllabus planning.
💃 Kuchipudi Practitioners
For revising theoretical principles and repertoire.
📖 Art Enthusiasts & Researchers
For a structured introduction to important aspects of Kuchipudi dance.
Inside the Book
About the Author
Natyavisharada Machiraju Rajesh
M.P.A. (Kuchipudi)
An experienced Kuchipudi artist and teacher, Machiraju Rajesh has dedicated himself to the systematic study, practice and teaching of Kuchipudi dance.
With deep respect for the Guru–Shishya Parampara, this work has been developed as a practical and academic guide to help students and Gurus approach the four-year Kuchipudi Certificate Course in an organised manner.
A Guide for the Journey
“Understand the Shastra.
Practise the tradition.
Develop the art.”