On the eve of its 20th Anniversary celebrations, Saila Sudha presents a mega cultural extravaganza of classical Kuchipudi epitomizing its confluence with other classical forms of India in the first National Kuchipudi Seminar in Tamilnadu.  

TRADITION - TRANSITION - TRANSFORMATION 
This event will contribute to espousing the greatness of the Kuchipudi style, to underline the holistic nature of the Kuchipudi art form, for examining the contemporary innovations and the quality of this parampara that influences and enriches this art form. It would be the first seminar of its kind to be conducted in Chennai at a National level involving the participation of renowned performing artists, scholars, and critics.  

Dates: Saturday 27th Sept. and Sunday 28th Sept. 2008  
Venue: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Main Hall), East Mada Street, Mylapore Chennai 600004  

PROGRAM SCHEDULE 

Saturday 27 Sept 2008 - Morning session 
9.30 - 10am: Registration & coffee 
10 - 10.15am: Outline of the Seminar  
10.15 - 10.30am: Documentary on Kuchipudi by Dr. Yamini Krishnamurti 
10.30am: Veda Gosham  
-   Swagatham to His Excellency Sri Surjith Singh Barnala, The Governor of Tamil Nadu by the students of  Saila Sudha 
 -   Inauguration of the Seminar  
-   Lighting of Kuttuvillakku 
-   Welcome address by Sailaja - Convener 
-   Honouring the dignitaries 
-   Presidential Address by N Murali – President, The Music Academy, Chennai   
-   Key note address - Yamini Krishnamurti 
-   Inaugural Address by His Excellency, The Governor 

11.45am - 1.30pm: Seminar - I Session 
Tradition: Discussion & Demonstration  
Participants: Yamini Krishnamurti 
Raja / Radha Reddy - Delhi  
P Sangeetha Rao - Hyderabad  

Artists from traditional Kuchipudi families: 
Dr. Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry  
Sri Vedantam Radheshyam 
Sri Bhagavatula Sethuram 

Question - Answer Session 
Summing up 

Saturday 27 Sept 2008: Evening program  
5pm: Honouring of artistes 
Guru Vempatti Chinna Sathyam - Chennai
Guru K J Sarasa – Chennai  
Yamini Krishnamurti – Delhi 
Sonal Mansingh - Delhi  
Raja / Radha Reddy – Delhi  
P Sangeetha Rao – Hyderabad  
Vedantam Radheshyam – Kuchipudi Village 
Kanaka Durga – Vijayawada  
Bala Kondala Rao – Visakhapatnam 
Kalamandalam Kshemavathy - Trichur  
Nandini Ramani - Chennai 
 

Performances: 
6.00 - 7.15pm: Yamini Reddy (Hyderabad)  
7.30pm: BAKTHA PRAHALADA in Yakshaganam style by Vedantam Radheshyam & Troupe (Kuchipudi Village) 
  
Sunday 28 Sept 2008 – Morning session 
9.30am - 1.30pm: Seminar – II Session 

TRANSITION  – TRANSFORMATION 
Chair Person: Sonal Mansingh 
Discussion and Exposition: Anupama Kylash & Sailaja   
Trends in Classical dance forms: Sonal Mansingh 

Confluence with other classical forms 
Oddisi: Sonal Mansingh – Delhi  
Bharatanatyam: Nandini Ramani – Chennai  
Mohiniyattam: Kalamandalam Kshemavathy – Thrissur  
Kuchipudi: Anupama Kylash – Hyderabad & Sailaja – Chennai  

Question – Answer session 
Summing up 

Sunday 28 Sept 2008: Evening program 
Performances: 
5 – 5.45pm: Prasanthi Ganeshram – Chennai  
5.45 – 6.30pm: Aditya Bullibrahmam & Amuktamalyaga – Visakhapatnam  
6.30 – 7.15pm: Uma Muralikrishna – Chennai                       
7.30 – 8.45pm: Vyjayanthi Kashi – Bangalore  
 

For participation and further details, contact:  
Sailaja  
Founder/Director 'Saila Sudha' and Convener of the Seminar  
New No. 7, (Old No. 3) Sriram Colony, Alwarpet, Chennai 600 018  
Phone: (044) - 42110994, Cell: 99620-52882  
Email: saila_sudha2006@yahoo.com 
Website: www.sailasudha.com  

PROF. SAILAJA, Founder / Director of Saila Sudha, is a noted votary of the classical styles of India (Bharatanatyam – Vazhuvoor style and Kuchipudi – Vempatti tradition) in the firmament of the cultural milieu, having a dedicated and devoted approach to training for over two decades.  She is an empanelled artist of the ICCR under the established category and a top ranking artist marked for her total involvement, complete commitment and consummate dedication. A versatile dancer fluid in her expressions and immaculate foot work, she has performed in all the important festivals in India and abroad.  She has a number of awards and titles to her credit and is a visiting professor and examiner in the faculty of dance of well-known universities. 

SAILA SUDHA creates a home experience for art lovers and learners around the world in sylvan surroundings, by utilizing the charm of music and dance to attract cultural cognoscente. Saila Sudha reflects the ethos of the culture, consistent with the basic principles of time honoured traditions, blending both technical excellence and enjoyable entertainment value. 

On entering the 20th year of its operation Saila Sudha has chalked out its future activities, aimed at enhancing and enriching the quality of its sphere of works.  It also continuously envisages to improve the presentation and technique of art forms substantially, to be at par with the best universal standards. 

Saila Sudha is proud to organize the first National Kuchipudi Seminar in Tamilnadu, epitomizing its confluence with other classical forms of India, with the participation of cultural icons and other renowned artists from all over the country.