Academy of Kuchipudi Dance
THE ACADEMY
Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, Inc. was formed in 1997, to advance the process of bringing the Kuchipudi art into the homes and communities of Atlanta and its neighboring cities. Its agenda includes teaching Kuchipudi dance, based on the guiding principles formulated by Guru Vempati, producing dance-dramas, and promoting the knowledge of this classical art to the next generation. The Academy has produced and presented 14 ballets, including choreographing 8/14 ballets; 75 new choreographies and 45 students to complete their Rangapravesam (graduation performance).
THE DIRECTOR
Sasikala Penumarthi is a senior disciple of Guru Padmabhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. She is a recipient of the Georgia Governor’s Award for Arts and Humanities 2025, Master Artist Award from the Georgia Arts Council and the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts. She serves as Artist Affiliate and Associate Faculty at Emory University, where she teaches full credit semester courses in Kuchipudi Dance. She is on the Georgia Council for the Arts state touring and teaching artist rosters, and performs/teaches all over the United States. Sasikala has her own dance studio in Suwanee, Georgia, and her troupe, on behalf of the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, presented several dance dramas to Atlanta audiences and other parts of the United States.