B. Naveena

🪔 About

B. Naveena is an impressive exponent of Kuchipudi, an Indian classical dance form. Her initial training in Kuchipudi was under Madhu Nirmala. She furthered her education by completing a Diploma in Kuchipudi from Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University, guided by Vedantam Venkatachalapathi. Naveena also holds an M.A. in Kuchipudi, an M.B.A. in Human Resource, and an M.A. in Samskrtam (Sanskrit). Her performance career includes participating in group productions and occasional solo performances. A significant turning point was her involvement in Vempati Ravishankar's dance production 'Nava Durga', where she also performed the role of Goddess Chandraghantaa. She danced principal roles in Dr. Vempati Chinna Sathyam's productions, such as 'Hara Vilaasam', and portrayed characters like Narada in his dance dramas. Naveena has also performed a Thillana in Hamsanandi as her first solo stage performance and engaged in creative role-reversals, such as playing Ravana in the Adhyatma Ramayana song 'Inti chengaluva'. A performance of "Bho Shambo" in Kuchipudi by Naveena Kanjarla is also available on YouTube. Naveena is also a dedicated teacher, having moved to Hyderabad for better opportunities in both performing and teaching Kuchipudi. She resides in Kothagudem, Telangana, and has a substantial number of students, approximately 130, some of whom have received the prestigious CCRT Research Scholarship. She has choreographed solo pieces like a Thillana in Garudadhvani and group choreographies such as 'Maamavatu Shree Sarasvati', and has also created fusion pieces combining Kuchipudi and Folk styles. Beyond dance, Naveena is an arts writer, translator, singer (singing for her mother Lakshmi Mani's Kuchipudi recitals), quizzer, and compere. Her proficiency in multiple languages, including Sanskrit, makes her sought after by musicians and dancers for lyric interpretation for their theses and performances.