V Jayarama Rao

🪔 About

Veernala Jayarama Rao, a distinguished exponent and guru of Kuchipudi, was born on November 4, 1947, in Pithapuram, Andhra Pradesh, India. He received his initial training in the traditional Guru-shishya parampara at the Sidhendra Kalakshetram in Kuchipudi Village, under eminent gurus such as Shri Chinta Krishnamurti, Shri PVGK Sharma, Vedantam Paravateesam, Vedantam Satyanarayana Sarma, and Shri PVG Krishna Sarma. He further honed his skills under the tutelage of the renowned Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam at the Kuchipudi Art Academy in Madras (now Chennai). Jayarama Rao initially performed female roles in traditional Kuchipudi Yakshaganas before transitioning to solo performances. In 1969, he relocated to Delhi with the aim of propagating Kuchipudi in North India, where he established the Kuchipudi Dance Academy in 1973. He is credited with extending the Kuchipudi repertoire through his contemporary choreography. A prolific performer and teacher, he has trained numerous students, including notable dancers like Swapna Sundari, Meenakshi Seshadri, and Vanashree Rao, who later became his wife and dance partner. Together with Vanashree Rao, he has performed extensively in major national and international festivals across over 60 countries, representing Indian classical dance globally. Jayarama Rao has also contributed to the art form as a researcher, holding a senior fellowship for his work on Kuchipudi, and serves on the Expert Committee for Kuchipudi under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD Ministry), Government of India. His contributions have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards. Awards & Honours: Padma Shri (2004), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1998), Delhi State Award, Andhra Pradesh Samman, Natyaratna Award (2005), Indira Priyadarshini Award (2003), Sahitya Kala Parishad Samman (1996).