Dancing for the honour

The four-day Sri Siddhendra Yogi Natya Kalotsavam that took place at Kuchipudi is one of the most famous dance festivals in the country.
Dancers from different disciplines flock the festival, and this year Hyderabad was represented by the Natya Swara Classical Dance Team.

The team that comprised five dancers — Himabindu and Sindhuja  Kuchipudi dancers Raisa a Bharatanatyam dancer, Mitha Vinay a Kathak dancer, and Mythili Anoop a Mohiniyattam dancer — was put together by Anna Rao from the city.

“The dance festival is one of the most important ones and it is an honour for dancers to perform there. Though many have represented Hyderabad, this is the first time that a team was formed to go to the festival,” says Rao.

The team stayed at Vempati Chinna Satyam’s home and performed on the 24th and 26th. “It is every dancer’s dream to  perform there. The place Kuchipudi is like a holy pilgrimage for us because it is where the dance form originated. We got to perform in front of a temple,” says Mythili Anoop, who performed Mohiniyattam.

She adds, “The thing with such festivals is that there is no money involved. The dancers perform here just for the love of dancing and because this is an honour. Any dancer would tell you that.”