Chinta Ravi Balakrishna

🪔 About

Chinta Ravi Balakrishna, a distinguished exponent of Kuchipudi, was born on June 3, 1984, in Kuchipudi Village, Andhra Pradesh, India. He hails from a traditional family of Kuchipudi Bhagavatulu, inheriting the art form as a family legacy. His initial training in Kuchipudi was under the tutelage of his father and Guru, Natyabhushanam Sri Chinta Ramamurthy. He further honed his skills under eminent gurus such as Vedantam Rattaiah Sarma, Padmasri Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, and Sri Chinta Ramanatham. Academically accomplished, Balakrishna completed his M.A. (Dance) with a gold medal from Siddendra Kalakshetram, Potti Sri Ramulu Telugu University, and also holds a diploma in Yakshagana. He pursued further education, earning a Masters in Telugu Literature from Acharya Nagarjuna University and is currently a PhD candidate at Telugu University. His pursuit of knowledge has been supported by scholarships from the CCRT, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and the Kendra Sangeet Natak Academy. Chinta Ravi Balakrishna began his solo performing career at the age of five, gracing national and international stages. Critics have lauded his performances for the “lyrical beauty of the pure nritta” and his “fresh, subtle, and matured Abhinaya”. He has portrayed significant roles in numerous dance ballets and Yakshaganas, including Vetrahasta, Chandamarkulu, and Lord Narasimha in 'Bhaktha Prahlada Charitam'; Satyabhama, Madhavi, and Lord Krishna in 'Bhamakaalapam'; Shiva, Aniruddha, ChitraRekha, and Usha in 'Usha Parinayam'; Bruhannala in 'Narthanasala'; and Maya Vishnu in 'Vinayaka Chavithi'. He has also choreographed notable solo items and ballets, such as "Ardha Nareeshwar" and "Rama Kathamritam". Currently, he serves as a dance instructor at The Siddhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kala Kshetram and has dedicated himself to residing in Kuchipudi village to propagate the ancestral art form. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi) (2009), Sutradhari Puraskar (Narthanasala) (2006), Yuva Sutradhari Puraskar (Siddhendra Yogi Nrityotsav) (2007), Nritya Kaumudi (Abhinaya Nritya Bharati, Eluru) (2008), Gold Medallist M.A. (Dance).