Yeleswarapu Srinivasulu

🪔 About

Yeleswarapu Srinivasulu, born in 1971 in the renowned Kuchipudi village of Andhra Pradesh, is a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, specializing in Kuchipudi. He hails from a family of performing artists deeply rooted in the Kuchipudi tradition, being a fourth-generation artist from one of the ten families dedicated to the art form in his village. Srinivasulu received extensive training from illustrious gurus including Shri Vempati Peddasatyam, Shri Vempati Chinna Satyam, Shri V. Satyanarayana Sarma, Shri Pasumarthi Rathiah Sarma, and Shri Mahankali Sriramulu Sarma. Beyond his dance training, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Nagarjuna University and a Master's degree in Kuchipudi Yakshagana. His career as a performer is extensive, with over 2,000 dance programs performed both nationally and internationally in countries such as the USA, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom. He is a graded artist of Doordarshan and is particularly recognized for his portrayal of 'Prathinayaka patras' (antagonist roles) in Kuchipudi Yakshagana, notably enacting characters like Bhasmasura and Hiranyakasipa. Srinivasulu is also a dedicated educator, having trained numerous students in Kuchipudi for many years at institutions like Potti Sriramulu Telugu University and Sri Siddhendra Yogi Kuchipudi Kalapitham in Kuchipudi. He also conducts research on the 'Prathinayaka role' in Kuchipudi dance. Among his notable accolades, Srinivasulu was awarded the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2010 for his exceptional talent in Kuchipudi dance. He is also a recipient of the Nritya Koumudi from the Nrutyabharati Academy, Eluru, and has received junior and senior fellowships from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The Sangeet Natak Akademi also granted him scholarships for specialized training in performing female roles in Yakshagana. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2010), Nritya Koumudi, Junior Fellowship, Senior Fellowship, Scholarship for specialized training in performance of female roles in Yakshagana.