Vyjyanthi Kashi

🪔 About

Vyjayanthi Kashi, born on January 1, 1960, in Bangalore, India, is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and a leading exponent of Kuchipudi. Her journey in dance began at the age of six with Bharatanatyam under Guru Ramanna of Tumkur, where she excelled, topping state exams. Initially, she pursued theatre and worked in a bank for 18 years, but her passion for dance led her back to the art form, specifically Kuchipudi, at the age of 30. Kashi received extensive training in Kuchipudi and Temple Ritual Dances from legendary gurus including C.R. Acharyalu, Vedantam Prahalada Sarma, Padmashree Vedantam Satyanarayana Sharma, Bharathakala Prapoorarna Korada Narasimha Rao, and Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. She is celebrated for her profound understanding of Kuchipudi, her dynamic performances, and innovative choreographies that blend classical tradition with contemporary aesthetics. She is also recognized for her unique ability to perform Chitranatya, painting images through rhythmic footwork. In 1993, Vyjayanthi Kashi founded the Shambhavi School of Dance in Bangalore, an institution dedicated to promoting artistic and professional excellence in Kuchipudi, adopting the ancient Gurukul system. She has served as the Chairperson of the Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy and is a current Member of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi. Beyond her dance career, Kashi is also an acclaimed actress in Kannada films and television, a dance therapist, researcher, and organizer of events like Dancejathre, India's first international dance fair. Awards & Honours: Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (2009), Karnataka Rajyothsava Award (2010), Zee Astitva Award (2006), Kalashree Award (2001), Vocational Excellence Award, Aryabhata Award (1996), Nruthya Chudamani Award (2019), Suvarna Bhartratna Award (2018), Guru Pankaj Charan Das Award (2019), Top Ranking Artist, Outstanding Artist, Research Fellow of Govt. of India in Kuchipudi, Noopura Award (2024), Gaurav Puraskar (2017), Debadhara Award (2017).