Vempati Chinna Satyam

Vempati Chinna Satyam
Born	Vempati Chinna Satyam (1929-10-15)15 October 1929 Kuchipudi,Andhra Pradesh
Died	29 July 2012(2012-07-29)(aged 82) Chennai,Tamil Nadu
Occupation	Classical Indian Dancer
Awards	Padma Bhushan:1998 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship:1967
Website	http:// kuchipudi

Vempati Chinna Satyam(15 October 1929 – 29 July 2012) was an Indian dancer and a guru of theKuchipudidance form.

Chinna Satyam was born in aBrahminfamilyatKuchipudi,Andhra Pradesh.He was taught by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry. He refined his art by learning from Sri Tadepally Perrayya Sastry and later was trained by his elder brother Vempati Pedda Satyam in expressions. As he learnt the nuances of this style of dance, he was successful in propagating the Kuchipudi dance form all over the world. He died of old age-related problems on 29 July 2012. He was 83.

Dance

Chinna Satyam sublimated and systematised Indian Kuchipudi dance, giving it a more classical basis. He refined the art form, bringing it closer to the standards ofNatya Shastraand introduced new elements, e.g. chari (leg movements) of Natya Shastra that are significantly different from the interpretations of other dance authorities, such as Padma Subrahmanyam. Previously, it had been considered a "rustic" (folk) form of dance.

Operas
Padmavati Srinivasa Kalyanam
Vipranarayana Charitam
Menaka Viswamitra
Sakuntalam
Bhama Kalapam
Chandalika
Rukmini Kalyanam
Hara Vilasam
Siva Dhanurbhangam (Ramayanam)

Kuchipudi Art Academy

Chinna Satyam started the Kuchipudi Art Academy atMadrasin 1963. The Academy has to its credit more than 180 solo items and 15 dance dramas composed and choreographed by Satyam. These solo items and dramas have been staged all over India and abroad. He composed his first dance dramaSri Krishna Parijathamin the same period followed by another hitKsheera Sagara Madanamand played the lead role. His portrayal of LordShivaand his choreography was well received.

Awards and honours

Vempati Chinna Satyam was conferred with many titles and awards such as "Sangeet Peeth of Bombay", "Asthana Natyacharya of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam",T.T.K. Memorial AwardbyMadras Music Academy,"Natya Kalasaagara of Waltair", "Raja-Lakshmi Awardof Madras ","Kalaprapoorna"fromAndhra University,"Natya Kala Bhushana of Guntur", "Bharatha Kalaprapoorna of Hyderabad", D. Litt. fromSri Venkateswara University,"Asthana Natyacharya of Pittsburgh", and "National Award fromCentral Sangeet Naatak Akademi,New Delhi ". He was awarded by many state governments of India such as Kalidas Puraskar by theGovernment of Madhya PradeshandKalaimamaniby theGovernment of Tamil Nadu.He was honored with a doctorate degree from Andhra University. He was also awarded thePadma Bhushanby theGovernment of India.