Swathi Somnath

🪔 About

Swathi Somnath, born Doosi Swathi, is a distinguished Indian Kuchipudi exponent and dance teacher originally from Chakradharpur, Bihar (now in Jharkhand), with her family roots in Doosi Agraharam, Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. She spent her formative years in West Bengal before settling in Hyderabad. Swathi Somnath holds a Master's degree in Kuchipudi from the Central University of Hyderabad and a Master of Philosophy in English Literature, and as of October 2020, was pursuing a Ph.D. in English Literature from Osmania University. Her dance journey began at age 11, and she received training in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam under Sumathi Kaushal. She made her stage debut in August 1980 at Ravindra Bharathi. Following her father's passing in 1981, she continued performing to support her family and, at the age of 16, formed her own orchestra. She gained significant recognition for her dance ballet "Vatsayani Kamasutra," based on Vātsyāyana's ancient Hindu literature on erotic love, which was both critically acclaimed by audiences and met with some criticism from conservative dancers for its depiction of *sringara* (erotic love). She has choreographed over 100 solo dance pieces and numerous Kuchipudi ballets and dramas, performing in more than 100 ballets, including "Draupadi," "Kama To Moksha," and "Sarvagnya Shankara." Swathi Somnath established the dance academy Nritya Bharathi in Hyderabad in the 1990s. Later, she founded the gurukula academy, Sampradayam Dance and Music Centre, in Srikakulam district, with its foundation stone laid on August 15, 2015. This institution is affiliated with Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. She has trained over six thousand students in Kuchipudi. Beyond her dance career, she has served as a member of the Central Board of Film Certification and the Central Audition Board for Kuchipudi in New Delhi, and also holds the position of principal at the College of Music and Dance, Hyderabad. She is married to Telugu film director Chevella Ravi Kumar. Awards & Honours: Kala Ratna (2006), Best Kuchipudi Dancer Award, Nritya Kaushal, Ugadi Puraskar, International Woman Of The Year Award, Uttama Kalakarini.