P Rama Devi

🪔 About

Dr. P. Rama Devi is a distinguished and renowned exponent of Kuchipudi, an Indian classical dance form. Her journey in dance commenced at the tender age of four, under the tutelage of the traditional Kuchipudi guru, late Mahankali Shrimannaraya garu, in Bapatla, Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. She also received initial training in Bharatanatyam in Kerala. After a six-year hiatus, she resumed her dance education, earning a Certificate and Diploma in Kuchipudi Dance from the Government Music and Dance College, Secunderabad. Her academic pursuits culminated in an M.A., M.Phil., and a Ph.D. in Kuchipudi Dance, with her doctoral research focusing on a comparative study of "Chathurvidhabhinayas between Kathakali and Kuchipudi Yakshagana" from P. S. Telugu University in 2010. She is currently pursuing a D.Lit from Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore. A versatile artist, Dr. Rama Devi is recognized as an 'A' Grade artiste by Doordarshan and excels as a performer, guru, scholar, choreographer, author, and organizer. She has authored six books on Kuchipudi dance, penned nine dance ballets, and choreographed over 30 ballets, earning critical acclaim. Her scholarly contributions extend to numerous articles in prestigious art magazines and newspapers, and she has presented papers at various national and international seminars on Abhinaya and other dance-related subjects. In 1989, Dr. Rama Devi established her own institution, "Sri Sai Nataraja Academy of Kuchipudi Dance," in Secunderabad, with the aim of propagating the rich cultural heritage of India through Kuchipudi. The academy has expanded its reach with branches in Calicut (Kerala), Nagpur (Maharashtra), and Philadelphia (USA). She is also actively involved in academia, serving as a Kuchipudi dance professor at ARIA University and the University of Silicon Andhra in California, USA, where she teaches Master's and Diploma programs. Additionally, she holds an Adjunct Professor position, guiding Ph.D. scholars at Alliance University, Bangalore, and Vedic Wellness University, Florida, USA. She has been honored with numerous accolades, including the Kala Ratna Hamsa Award from the Andhra Pradesh government in March 2026, the National Tagore Fellowship in 2026, the Kerala State Sangeet Natak Academy's "Kalasri" Award, and a Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, in 2002. Other notable awards include "Navarasa Natya Prapurna," "Nrittiya Kala Choodai," "Lifetime Achievement" awards, and the "Geeta Govind Samman." Awards & Honours: Kala Ratna Hamsa Award (2026), National Tagore Fellowship (2026), Kalasri Award, Senior Fellowship (2002), Navarasa Natya Prapurna, PANORAMA OF DANCE, Nrittiya Kala Choodai, Kala Subba Rao Smaraka Puraskaram, Durgabai Deshmukh, Lifetime Achievement, Badam Sarojini Devi Award, Pancha Ratna Mahila Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, Geeta Govind Samman, Malabar Sukumaran Bhagavathar Memorial Award (2021).