Kuchipudi (pronounced as 'Koochipoodi') is a Classical Indian dance
form from Andhra Pradesh, India. Kuchipudi is the name of a village in
the Divi Taluka of Krishna district that borders the Bay of Bengal and
with resident Brahmins practicing this traditional dance form, it
acquired the present name.

The performance usually begins with some stage rites, after which
each of the character comes on to the stage and introduces
him/herself with a daru (a small composition of both song and dance)
to introduce the identity, set the mood, of the character in the drama.
The drama then begins. The dance is accompanied by song which is
typically Carnatic music. The singer is accompanied by mridangam
(a classical South Indian percussion instrument), violin, flute
and the tambura (a drone instrument with strings which are plucked).
Ornaments worn by the artists are generally made of a light weight
wood called Boorugu.

The movements in Kuchipudi are quicksilver and scintillating, rounded
and fleet-footed. Performed to classical Carnatic music, it shares
many common elements with Bharatanatyam. In its solo exposition
Kuchipudi numbers include 'jatiswaram' and 'tillana' whereas in nritya
it has several lyrical compositions reflecting the desire of a
devotee to merge with God - symbolically the union of the soul
with the super soul.

Beyond the stylistic differences of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam steps,
there are certain types of dances that are unique to Kuchipudi.
Specifically there is the Tarangam of Kuchipudi which is unique
in that the dancer must dance upon a brass plate, placing the feet
upon the raised edges. The dancer moves the plate with much balance
as the indiviudal is traditionally dancing on the plate with two diyas
(small oil-burning candles) in his or her hands while balancing a "kundi"
(small vessel) containing water on their head. At the end of the dance,
typically, the dancer extinguishes the candles and washes his or her
hands with the water from the vessel.

The prominence of Kuchipudi dance form is not limited to India alone.
There are now a number of popular Kuchipudi teachers, choreograph-
ers and dancers all around the world, especially in North America.