The award-winning Arunima Kumar Dance Company (AKDC) is the UK's largest Kuchipudi institution and one of the leading South Asian dance companies focusing on promoting the best of Indian classical dance, music, art and culture to global audiences.
Kumar has a series of high-profile performance under her belt, including performing for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his last visit to the UK in April 2018 and also on the steps of Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II during the UK-India Year of Culture in 2017.
For DiwaliFest2020, the celebrated danseuse not only gave a Masterclass (video attached) but also a little history of this ancient Indian dance form, which takes its name from the village of Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh and has a deeply spiritual dimension.
“Traditionally, this temple dance was performed only by male Brahmins in a group dance theatre format or as natya mela,” explains Arunima.
During the course of the Masterclass, the danseuse is joined by a young disciple who keeps pace with her dance steps.
*For similar workshops and masterclasses from DiwaliFest2020, explore here