Raj Bobby Chavali

🪔 About

Guru Rajesh (Bobby) Chavali is a dedicated Kuchipudi classical dancer, composer, and teacher. He received his training from several eminent gurus, including the legendary Maestro Dr. Vempati China Satyam and his school, Vedantam Raghava Sharma, Dr. Pavani Sreelatha, Dr. Bhagavatula Krishna, and Dr. Swarajyam. He was also inspired by Dr. Bhagavatula Sri Rammurthy. Additionally, he learned from students of Satyam garu, Nitya Prasad garu, Sanjeev Babu garu, and Dr. Vedantam Swarajyalakshmi garu. Chavali founded NatyaTarang Kuchipudi Kalakshetram, an institution established in 1980, dedicated to teaching and preserving the Kuchipudi art form. He has been teaching Kuchipudi for several years and has recently relocated to the Bay Area, where he continues the traditional guru shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition) in Fremont, Dublin, San Ramon, and Milpitas. His academy offers Kuchipudi dance classes, including training for certification and diploma programs, as well as arangetrams and performances. Beyond his teaching and performance, Guru Chavali is also a researcher. In 2005, he presented a paper titled "Men in Dance with Special Emphasis on Kuchipudi, a South Indian Classical Dance Tradition" at the International Word Congress of Dance Research. This paper explored the historical evolution of Kuchipudi as a male-driven tradition and its transformation over time to include female dancers.