PHILADELPHIA (TIP): West Chester East High School Auditorium was the setting for the Annual Student Showcase of the International Center for Kuchipudi Dance (ICKD) on November 29, 2025. The event showcased Kuchipudi’s grace, skill, and tradition, which are the principal characteristics of this ancient Indian classical dance.
A captivating performance by Bhavana Reddy’s students
Piyush Singh, Head of Press and Culture, Indian Consulate in New York, formally opened the event and was accompanied by prominent members of the arts and culture community in the greater Philadelphia area.
The Guru, Bhavana Reddy, also gave a performance.
Founded by the world-renowned Kuchipudi virtuoso, Bhavana Reddy, the International Centre for Kuchipudi Dance is an institution, fostering a community for Kuchipudi. As the daughter of Padma Bhushan Awardees Drs. Raja and Radha Reddy, she is continuing the Reddy family’s illustrious legacy. Students from states such as Texas, California, Arizona, Illinois and Pennsylvania showcased their hard work and dedication and delivered an entertaining performance filled with traditional Kuchipudi pieces.
Through virtual training with Bhavana Reddy over the last few years, her students came together to attend intensive rehearsals with her in Philadelphia this month and create the outstanding show they presented. The works presented during the performance Mandooka Sabdam, Jathiswaram, Annamacharya Keerthana, Jathikattu and Rajashri Sabdam and the institution continues to grow, building upon the teachings of her gurus.
Bhavana Reddy’s teaching philosophies have nurtured a wide range of students –
both experienced and beginner, adults and kids
“Of the several ancient forms of dance and art on this earth, Kuchipudi, which can be interpreted as the essence of India, has the largest number of practitioners worldwide.
Bhavana Reddy, founder and artistic director of the International Center for Kuchipudi Dance, says, “This production has helped to generate interest in Indian antiquity and dance form through the diligence and commitment of our students. We hope our production encourages stronger interest in and participation in Indian classical arts.”
Consul Piyush Singh with the performers who were presented certificates.
International Centre for Kuchipudi Dance (ICKD), founded in 2020, is an institution dedicated to the education and support of a global network of committed devotees, with approximately 30 members located in the USA, Bahamas, Canada, Europe, UAE, and India. Over the past five years, ICKD has been able to host 5 digital showcases and now hosts 4 live showcases and has worldwide reach for Kuchipudi dance.
The recorded version of the international student showcase will be streamed live on YouTube on 14 December 2025 for the international audience’s enjoyment.
When: November 29, 2025
Time: 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM EST
Venue: West Chester East High School Auditorium, Philadelphia
“Erasing Borders” dance performances are part of the Indo-American Arts Council’s (iaac.us) ongoing celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence, August 15. The celebration will feature two live performances, August 6 & 7 at the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, and a virtual August 8th streaming with artists from India, Canada, Singapore and the U.S.
PROGRAM
Program A: live, Saturday August 6, 7 pm
Program B: live, Sunday August 7, 7 pm
Venue: Ailey Citigroup Theater, 405 West 55 Street, NYC
Program C: virtual, Monday August 8
India@75
Program A: Saturday August 6, 7 pm
Featuring
Sanjib Bhattacharya and Lagannath Lairenjam in
Manipuri-Pung Cholom (Drum Dance)
Kavya Ganesh in contemporary Bharatanatyam
Bhavana Reddy in Kuchipudi with introductions by the legendary Raja Reddy.
India@75
Program B: Sunday August 7, 7 pm
Featuring
Jin Won in Kathak with live music
Ailey II in “Saa Magni”
Mythili Prakash in contemporary Bharatanatyam
Erasing Borders Dance Festival-virtual
Program C: Monday August 8, premiers at 7 pm.
Streaming is available until August 22
featuring choreography by
Tanya Saxena
Tanveer Alam
Liz Lea and danced by Subastian Tan and Shahrin Johry
Mythili Maratt Anoop
Deepali Salil with Nilava Sen, Shubhamani Chandrashekar, Athul Balu
India@75
Saturday Aug 6, 2022, 7-9PM
Sapta, Manipuri-Pung Cholom (drum dance)
Performed by Sanjib Bhattacharya and Jagannath Lairenjam
Sapta, meaning seven, is an attempt to paint the canvas of time, using 3 sets of 7 beats.
12 minutes of time is celebrated through three ornate sets of 7 matras (beats), each set depicting a significant tradition of Manipuri Classical Dance.
‘Time the Elusive Friend,’ contemporary Bharatanatyam
Choreographed and performed by Kavya Ganesh
Music courtesy- Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan
Music composition- GS Rajan
Mentored by Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan
External time is a linear dimension-ticking along in a constant, singular rhythm. What about the internality of time? In this work, time has been conceptualized as sakhi (friend).
‘Solo Kuchipudi’ by Bhavana Reddy with introductions by Raja Reddy
Narasimhavataram
This is a story of one of Vishnu’s avatars that of Narasimha. Hiranyakashyapu, a demon king worshipper of Shiva, sought a boon from Brahma, to be unvanquishable by any weapon, by any man or animal, inside or outside, by day or by night.
Nijagadha sa yadu Nandane (Jayadeva’s ashtapadi)
‘Jathiswaram’ is a tapestry of rhythm and melody which are given visual form with dance on the brass plate.
India@75
Sunday Aug 7, 2022
Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre, 7-9PM
‘Andaaz’ – an immersive exploration of Rhythm and dance, by Jin Won, kathak, with tabla by Mike Lukshis and Electric Viola by Martha Mooke.
A sonic and visual endeavor alternating between two different Rhythm cycles, 5 and half beats / 16 beats, “Andaaz” explores the subtle movements through contemporary and traditional dance forms of Kathak to portray a beautiful visual canvas.
Alvin Ailey II, Saa Magni Alvin Ailey II will be joining Indian dancers to celebrate the 75 years of Indian independence. They will be performing Saa Magni in the spirit of hope, celebration and dance.
Saa Magni is choreographed by Yannick Lebrun and performed by Meagan King and Christopher Taylor to music by Oumou Sangaré from the album Ko Sira, published by World Circuit Records.
‘Poo | Poo’ (Contemporary bharatanatyam) Performed and choreographed by Mythili Prakash
Polarity. Co-existence. Singularity.
Lingering between past and present, global and local, sacred and worldly, stylized and pedestrian, structure and fluidity, Poo | Poo (flower in Tamil |shit in America) negotiates the weight of past and tradition through the freedom of our bodies and voices today in the re-imagining of a traditional myth–the dance-off between Shiva and Kali.
India@75
Erasing Borders Dance Festival
Monday August 8, 2022, premiers at 7 pm.
Streaming is available until August 22 on Indo American Arts Council Facebook https://www.facebook.com/iaac.us and Youtube https://www.youtube.com/user/IAACEvent
Introduction by Subhalakshmi Amjad Ali Khan
Bindu
Choreographed and performed by Tanya Saxena (bharatanatyam)
Sound Design and Mixing: Ananda Gupta
Music: Rajat Prasanna
‘Bindu’ (the originary dot) is a movement film inspired by artist S.H. Raza, made in collaboration with the Raza Foundation.
Leher (Wave) choreographed and performed by Tanveer Alam (kathak)
‘Leher’ emerged as a quiet response to this time and context of massive change that we have all experienced since the pandemic. The work, in vilambit taal (slow tempo) is patient, intimate, and looks at the effects of decelerating in time.
Music: Gurumurthy Vaidya
Dramaturgy: Harikishan S. Nair
Mixing and mastering: Roshin Shabu
Videography and editing: Aman Chandak
Supported by: Sadhana Project Residency (Anandam Dancetheatre), The Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council.
‘Terra’
Choreographed by Liz Lea
Danced by Subastian Tan and Shahrin Johry.
Music by TaikOz
A contemporary dance with influences from movement techniques of Singapore and India.
‘Bird of Time’
Inspired by Sarojini Naidu’s poem, ‘The Bird of Time’ this work presents an assortment of life’s dramatic moments which ultimately ends in silence.
‘Animals’ (excerpted from Looking Within Looking Around) The excerpt “ANIMALS” is choreographed and performed by bharatanatyam dancers from all over India. It is conceptualized by Deepali Salil. Choreographed and performed by Bharatanatyam dancers Nilava Sen as Gazelle; Shubhamani Chandrashekar as Orca; Athul Balu as Hyena; Deepali Salil as Sarus Crane.
Original music composition – Sanchit Choudhary
In our excerpt film “Animals” we seek to renew the connection with our animal kingdom. The only way forward is together. Conserving and living sustainably needs to become a lifestyle.
To learn more about each performer/artist, visit iaac.us/erasing-borders-dance-festival-2022
TICKETS
For Tickets, visit eventbrite.com/cc/festival-of-india75-605699
For reservations, contact Audrey Ross at audreyrosspub@aol.com or 929 222 3973.
(Mabel Pais writes on The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, Health & Wellness, Cuisine and Spirituality)
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