Swathi Kandadai is a classical Kunchipudi Dance exponent living in Maryland. She has started learning this great art at the age of five. She was a senior desciple of a world renowned Kuchpudi Dance exponent- Nrutyachoodamani-Padmasree-Dr.Sobha Naidu of Hyderabad whose name is synonomos with this great Dance form. Swathi was the first receipient of Gold Medal, from the Kuchipudi Art Academy, which is run by her own Guru Dr.Sobha Naidu, while finishing her Naatya Vishaarada diploma course. Swathi was a senior student and also was a faculty in her Guru's school of Dance, thus having an association of over two decades with Dr.Sobha Naidu, as a student, as a faculty memebr and as a co-artiste in more than 300 performances given through out the country and abroad. She holds a Masters degree in Performing Arts with distinction from Central University, Hyderabad. Swathi and Srinivas have started their own Kuchipudi Dance school, an year back in Boyds [Maryland] and training the young and talented children.
Subha Maruvada
An accomplished artist, Dr. Subha Maruvada has a unique distinction of celebrated excellence in two classical dance techniques of South India - Kuchipudi under Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and Bharatnatyam under Mrs. Kamala Narayana (Laxman). Subha is the first student from USA to have her Kuchipudi Rangapravesam under Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Sathyam of Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai, India, which was marked by fluidity and grace. "The jathi sequences were matched by her dancing feet and there was never a false step" said Mr. A.S. Raman about her performance. She has played various roles in the Kuchipudi dance dramas such as Sri Krishna, Sri Vishnu, Manmadha, and various supporting roles in Haravilasam, Abhignana Sakunthalam, Ardhanareeswara, Ramayanam, Sri Krishna Parijatham and Leela Ganapati. She has been actively participating in performances under Gurus Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and Vempati Ravi Shankar. Subha is the founder and artistic director of Kuchipudi Kalakendra and currently teaches in Maryland and Virginia. Please visit www.kuchipudikalakendra.org for more details.
Bably Singh
Bably Singh, started learning Bharat Natyam and Kathak at the tender age of 5 years and holds a diploma. She joined film industry at the age of 13 as a dancer performing in Bollywood films. She became an assistant choreographer to famous dance directors like Saroj Khan, Suresh Bhatt, Vijay-Oscar, P.L. Raj and Jai Borade. She acted in many Hindi and regional movies, did leading roles in many punjabi movies also performed solo dances in famous movies. She danced with stars like Amitabh Bachhan, Rishi Kapoor, Mithun Charkravorthi, Rajesh Khanna, Rekha, Smita Patil, Dilip Kumar and others. She masters in Western, Indian, Classical, Folk and Bhangra dances. Now she has settled down in Frederick MD for last 8 years.
Srinivas Kandadai has participated in various dance ballets with his Guru Padmasree-Dr.Sobha Naidu and travelled extensively across India for fourteen years. He has been recognized and felicitated by his Guru as the best disciple. Has been one of the all rounder doing extra ordinary justice for the characters small or big and taking the audience by surprise and enthralling them. Both Swathi and Srinivas have started their own Kuchipudi Dance school, an year back in Boyds [Maryland] and training the young and talented children.
Samita Singh
Samita Singh holds Bachelors in Commercial Art and Design and Masters in Fine Arts. She learned several Folk dances from different states in India and all over the world. She learned Kathak for 5years. She participated in Asian games culture program in1982 and was the Lead dancer from HaryanaState. She got the title of best dancer of Haryana state in 1983. She conducted Art and dance classes for young children. She gives ‘Dance for Fun’ classes as after school activities. She has worked as a Montessori teacher for several years and now runs her own Montessori school in ClarksburgMD.