Yeleswarapu Chalapathi Sastry

🪔 About

Yeleswarapu Chalapathi Sastry, born on September 9, 1953, is a distinguished exponent of the traditional Indian classical dance form, Kuchipudi, and specifically Kuchipudi Yakshaganam. He hails from a lineage of esteemed Kuchipudi artists, being the son of the Sangeet Natak Academy Award winner Guru Sri Yeleswarapu Nageswara Sarma, who initiated him into the art form. His maternal uncle is also the renowned Yakshagaana pitaamaha and Sangeet Natak Academy Awardee Guru Sri Pasumarthy Venugopala Krishna Sarma. Chalapathi Sastry is academically accomplished, holding a Master of Commerce (M.Com.), a Master of Performing Arts (Dance) (M.P.A. Dance), and a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.). He is recognized for his excellent teaching and performing style, which has led him to achieve significant recognition in the field. His career includes serving as a dance teacher in Jamshedpur for six years. Currently, he contributes to the preservation and promotion of Kuchipudi by working at a Zilla Parishad High School in Kuchipudi village and also imparts training through a humble school of dance from his home. He is the founder and director of the Sri Kanaka Durga Kuchipudi Dance Academy in Hyderabad. Chalapathi Sastry is considered one of the last living links to the treatise of the modern age Kuchipudi Yakshaganam, as taught by Guru Vedantam Lakshminarayana Sastry. His life's motto is dedicated to protecting, preserving, propagating, and promoting the rich heritage of Kuchipudi dance passed down from his ancestors and gurus to future generations. Awards & Honours: JINDAL Award.