Kala Krishna

🪔 About

Kala Krishna, born in 1951 in Kallepalli village, Karimnagar district, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, primarily recognized for his profound contributions to Andhranatyam. His extensive training encompassed multiple classical dance forms. He received his initial grounding in Andhranatyam from Shrimati Saride Manikyamma, Shrimati Annabattula Satyabhama, and Shrimati Jampa Mutyam, later specializing under the renowned teacher and scholar Shri Nataraj Ramakrishna, who was instrumental in reviving the near-forgotten Andhranatyam. Kala Krishna also pursued Kuchipudi dance under Shri Jagannadha Sarma and Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, and Bharatanatyam under Shrimati G. Visalakshi. Throughout his illustrious career, Kala Krishna has established himself as an outstanding performer of the temple dance traditions of Andhra Pradesh. He is particularly acclaimed for his portrayal of Navajanardana Parijatam, a traditional nine-night temple performance, and is celebrated for his exceptional female impersonation (stree vesham), especially as Satyabhama, earning him the title "Abhinava Satyabhama." He has performed extensively across India and internationally in countries such as the United States, Britain, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Mauritius, presenting numerous lecture-demonstrations and workshops on Andhranatyam. Kala Krishna is a dedicated educator, teaching dance at his institution, Hari Hara Nrithya Niketan, and serving as a visiting faculty member at the University of Hyderabad, where he teaches abhinaya to postgraduate students, and at Telugu University. He has also served as a Cultural Coordinator and Choreographer for the Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and has been instrumental in popularizing the Lasya tradition of Perini dance in Telangana. His academic contributions include research projects on the comparative analysis of Andhra Natyam and Bharatanatyam, and Abhinaya techniques in female impersonation, supported by grants from the Ministry of Culture and the Sangeet Natak Akademi. He has also authored several articles and books on these dance traditions. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2009), Kala Ratna Hamsa Award, Nandi Award (1988), Pratibha Puraskar, Award of the Kuchipudi Art Academy of Hyderabad, First Awardee of Telangana State formation Day, Abhinaya Satya Bhama, Madhura Lasya Kala Nidhi, ICCR Panel Artiste in Outstanding Category.