Lalitha Sindhuri Y

🪔 About

Lalitha Sindhuri Y is an acclaimed Kuchipudi dancer and research scholar from India, known for her extensive performances and academic pursuits in the classical dance form. Born in Amalapuram and raised in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, her journey into Kuchipudi began around the age of twelve, guided by her father. She received her initial practical training from renowned gurus such as Sri Vedantam Satya Narasimha Sastry and Sri Vedantam Venkatachalapathy. Later, during her Masters, she also trained under Smt. Jonnalagadda Anuradha and is currently training under Sri Kishore Mosalikanti. Sindhuri is the great-granddaughter of Sri Vempati Venkatanarayana, one of the Kuchipudi Trinity, indicating a strong lineage in the art form. Academically, Lalitha Sindhuri holds a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science, but chose to pursue dance as a full-time career in her final year. She earned her Master of Performing Arts (MPA) in Dance from the University of Hyderabad, where she is currently pursuing her PhD in Dance under Dr. Aruna Bhikshu. Her doctoral research includes a project entitled “The Impact of Cross-Cultural Training on the Practice and Pedagogy of Kuchipudi Dance,” which she pursued as a 2017-2018 Indian Fulbright Visiting Researcher at Barnard College, Columbia University in the U.S. Sindhuri has an impressive performance career, having given over 800 to 1000 performances across India and internationally. She has performed at prestigious venues and festivals, including Nada Neerajanam at Tirumala and the Mongolia Cultural Fest. She is also recognized for choreographing Ghantasala's songs in adherence to classical grammar. Her numerous accolades include the Bala Ratna State Award (2004), Balashree National Award (2006) from then President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and a Silver Rolling Trophy for winning national competitions for four consecutive years. She has also received the Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowship (2017-18) and scholarships from the Ministry of Culture. Lalitha Sindhuri is a graded artiste of Doordarshan and has expressed a desire to establish an institute for quality dance education in her hometown of Rajahmundry. Awards & Honours: Bala Ratna State Award (2004), Pratibha Award (2005), Balashree National Award (2006), Silver Rolling Trophy (Navya Nataka Samiti National Level Competitions), NCERT scholarship (2006), Natya Mayuri (2009), Nritya Bharati (2010), Nritya Koumudi (2010), Outstanding Young Person Award (2011), Abhinava Rasadhuni (2011), Scholarship from Ministry of Culture (HRD), Nritya Vilasini (2013), Young Woman Achiever Award (2015), Natya Manjeera (2016), Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowship (2017).