Kuchipudi, one of the art forms of the South had its origin in Andhra Pradesh. Actors sing and dance, and the style is a blend of folk and classical. Lyrics used in Kuchipudi are usually in Telugu, though Sanskrit verses are also not uncommon. Kuchipudi is a perfect balance between “Nritta”, “Nritya” and “Naatya”. The Nritta is a rhythmic sequence that concludes a song; the Nritya or “Sabdams” in which the rhythmic passages are followed by interpretations and Naatya is a complete dance drama with storyline and characters.

Performance—Kuchipudi performances are dance dramas, commonly referred as Ata Bhagavatham. The technique of Kuchipudi makes use of fast rhythmic footwork and sculpturesque body movements. Stylized minme, using hand gestures and different different facial expressions, is combined with more realistic acting. Themes are mostly derived from the scriptures amd mythology and the portrayal of certain characters is a central motif of this dance form.