Kuchipudi Performance by Raja & Radha Reddy Lights up the third Day of The Old Fort Dance Festival

The eminent Kuchipudi dancing couple of Raja and Radha Reddy performed at the Old Fort Dance Festival today with their group, bringing alive the much-loved art form from Andhra Pradesh for an audience of classical dance lovers in the capital.

Presented by the Sahitya Kala Parishad & Department of Art, Culture & Languages, Government of Delhi, the Old Fort Dance Festival is showcasing some of India's most treasured classical dance forms.

Kuchipudi was the attraction on the third day of the magnificent dance festival which has already witnessed majestic performances of Mohiniyattam and Bharatnatyam by Bharati Shivaji & Group and Leela Samson and her group respectively. The majestic ruins of Delhi's Purana Qila have provided a fine ambience to this unique festival celebrating India's classical dance forms.

The five-day festival of choreographies in classical dance forms will see participation of veteran and legendary dance artists and their groups in multiple dance forms including Pandit Birju Maharaj, Madhvi Mudgal, among others.

"The repertoire of Indian classical dances represents centuries of culture and tradition that has been preserved and sustained by generations of devoted exponents and earnest artists. Across the globe, Indian classical dance forms are appreciated and loved by dance lovers. We believe the festival will help extend the reach of classical dance forms to not just connoisseurs of dance but also to common people," says Pandit Birju Maharaj.

"The idea behind the Old Delhi Dance Festival to juxtapose cultural heritage with structural heritage is a wonderful concept. The Purana Qila presents a poignant background to the performance of India's most notable classical dance forms, some of whom originated centuries back in ancient and medieval times," says Ms Leela Samson.

The oldest surviving dance form of India, Odissi will be at centre stage on the penultimate day of the festival (tomorrow), with Padma Shri Madhvi Mudgal choreographing the performance of the soft and graceful dance form.

The festival will end with a performance of Kathak choreographed by none other than Pandit Birju Maharaj and his Group. The legendary exponent of Kathak has received numeours accolades over the years including Padma Vibhushan, sangeet Natak Academi Award and the prestigious Kalidas Samman.

Source : Equity Bulls

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