Participants at the session in Rourkela. Picture by Uttam Kumar Pal

Rourkela, May 28: Dancers of various classical genres of the city are getting a chance to learn the nuances of Kuchipudi.

Kalabhumi, a city-based institute of Bharatnatyam and performing acts, is organising a five-day Kuchipudi dance workshop at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela. Twenty various dance institutes of the city are attending the workshop that commenced yesterday.

Kuchipudi exponent Srimayi Vempati is teaching the nuances of the form to the dancers. Performed on Carnatic music, Vempati said Kuchipudi shared many common elements with Bharatnatyam. “Though several elements are the same, the basic steps of both the dance forms are different. Kuchipudi dance requires brisk movements where a lot of emphasis is paid on the extension of the leg and the bending of the torso,” said the danseuse.

“There are not many forums imparting training in Kuchipudi in the state. So, I am trying to teach these professional dancers the basics as well as some intricate sequences,” she said.

The workshop begins in the morning and goes on till the evening. Srimayi will teach acts such as Jatiswaram and Tillana among others. Daughter-in-law of Kuchipudi guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, Srimayi has taken the onus of carrying forward his legacy.

The workshop’s objective is to enable senior classical dancers an opportunity to gain a thorough knowledge of the dance form. “Any classical dancer must have knowledge about other classical dance forms. One must also have clear understanding of Natyashastra penned by Bharat Muni about 3,000 years ago explaining diverse features of this dance form. Next, we will organise a workshop on Mohiniyattam,” said Suchismita Biswas, principal of Kalabhumi and a Bharatnatyam exponent.

Rashmita Rani, a college-goer, who attends the sessions, is picking up the dance form pretty quickly. “Srimayi Vempati not only teaches the steps, but also explains the meaning and significance of those. She has great respect for the art, and we are learning a great deal from her,” said Rashmita.

Choreographers of western dance forms were also invited to attend the workshop, so that they can use the steps in their creations of fusion.