Kuchipudi performers dance their way into Guinness

Naidu vows to spread Kuchipudi in all countries To appoint Kuchipudi dance teachers in schools Asks parents to make at least one child learn the art
Vijayawada: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday announced that his government would extend all kinds of support to promote Kuchipudi dance in the state and called upon the parents in the state to see that at least once child in every home learn Kuchipudi dance.

The Chief Minister was the chief guest at the valedictory function of the three-day International Kuchipudi dance convention organised by Silicon Andhra with the help of the Andhra Pradesh government at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation Stadium from December 23 to 25.

In all, a record number of 6,117 Kuchipudi dancers participated in the event to create a new record in the International Kuchipudi dance convention in Vijayawada.Guinness Book of World Records representative, Rishinath presented the New Guinness Record certificate to the Chief Minister amidst the cheering artistes and thousands of audience who came from different parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Thousands of young dancers, teachers, parents and a large number of audience enjoyed the glittering cultural extravaganza in the evening. Laser lighting and colourful decoration of stages with illuminated lighting was an added attraction to the show. Young dancers joyfully spent the pleasant evening on Sunday.Delighted over the events taking place, Chandrababu Naidu said: ‘I am happy to see a large number of dedicated and talented dancers creating a new record and congratulate you all for achieving this new record’.

The Chief Minister has announced that the government would appoint Kuchipudi dance teachers in Government schools with honorarium payment of Rs 11,000 per month and each teacher has to teach in five schools.He said the government had decided to develop the Siddhendra Yogi Kalakshetram in Kuchipudi village in Krishna district and provide education facilities to pursue education up to Post graduation level. He recalled many Kuchipudi dancers and teachers have dedicated their lives to popularize the Kuchipudi dance and felt Kuchipudi dance will become one of the best dances in the World and it will spread to all countries in future.

Chandrababu Naidu said many world famous Kuchipudi dancers have dedicated their lives to keep it alive for 700 years. He recalled the fourth International Kuchipudi convention was held in Gachchibowli stadium in Hyderabad in 2014 and the fifth convention in Vijayawada created a new Guinness record with 6117 participants.

Union Minister for Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu has congratulated the dancers for creating new Guinness Book of World Records. He said we must protect our art, culture and literature and appealed to the people not to forget their roots where they have come from. He said the kings were used to patronage the arts but in today’s world the Chief Ministers and Prime Ministers are taking the responsibility of safeguarding our ancient traditions, culture, arts and literature.

Venkaiah Naidu said ‘I feel very happy to see here a large number of Kuchipudi dancers performing dance with outstanding ability and concentration’. Ministers Kamineni Srinivas, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, deputy Assembly speaker Mandali Buddha Prasad and others present on the occasion.