Padma Sonti

🪔 About

Padma Sonti, a renowned Kuchipudi guru, began her classical dance journey with Bharatanatyam under Dr. Uma Rama Rao at age ten, before dedicating herself to Kuchipudi. She received extensive training from Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and Smt. Shoba Naidu at the Kuchipudi Art Academy. Furthering her expertise, Sonti earned a Master's degree in dance, specializing in Kuchipudi, supported by a prestigious National Dance Scholarship from the Indian government. Her illustrious career spans over 300 solo recitals and dance ballets across the globe, including performances with her gurus at the Hong Kong Festival of Asian Arts and various Kuchipudi Forums in North America. She played significant roles in classical Kuchipudi ballets such as Krishna Parijatham, Kalyana Srinivasam, and Vipranarayana. In 1996, Guru Sonti established Kuchipudi Kalakshetra in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area, which is recognized as one of the first successful Kuchipudi dance schools in the region. The academy has since expanded to three locations and has guided 28 students through their Rangapravesams. Her teaching legacy includes choreographing numerous productions like Sivananda Lahari, Datta Darshanam, and Deepavali. In 2007, she founded the Mudra Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting aspiring dancers and elderly Kuchipudi artists through charity performances. Awards & Honours: Natya Visharada (1983), Nritya Ratna (1989), National Dance Scholarship from the Indian government.