Radha and Raja Reddy
The World renowned and devoted dancing duo Dr. Raja and Radha Reddy have given a new dimension to the age old art of Kuchipudi dance without sacrificing the traditional poetry or dramatic sensibility. With rare excellence and perfection of technique they have earned the credit for Kuchipudi’s high ranking today among the major dance forms of India. They hail from the state of Andhra Pradesh, the birthplace of Kuchipudi style of Indian classical Dance. In precise postures and refined patterns the perfect unison of Dr. Raja and Radha Reddy re-enlivens the magnificent sculptures chiseled in the ancient temples of India. Raja and Radha Reddy were trained by Guru Vedantam Prahlada Sarma, at Sri Siddhendra Kalakshetram in Kuchipuri village and at Kalakshetram, Eluru. They created history by becoming first couple to receive individually and simultaneously the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Award. Raja and Radha Reddy have been honored by many other national and international awards for their unparalleled contribution in the field of classical dance like award of Sahitya Kala Parishad, Delhi in 1988. For giving Kuchipudi dance international recognition, they received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1991 and Nrityachoodamani award etc. They have had the honour of participating in numerous International Dance Festivals such as the Avignon in France, Festival of India in USA , South America, Europe and so on. They were invited to declare open the Play House Theatrein Durban, South Africa for general public with their inaugural Kuchipudi performance and also had the privilege of representing India as the star attraction of the All-star Ballet Gala festival in Japan. The dancing duo Raja and Radha Reddy are also one of the most sought after choreographers in the country today. In their career spanning over four decades they have choreographed several dance dramas, solos, duets and group performances.
