ABOUT KUCHIPUDI WITH ASWATHI

WHAT IS KUCHIPUDI?


Kuchipudi is one of the eight major classical dance styles of India, originating from the state of Andhra Pradesh. This dance-drama art form dates back to the 10th century and is based on the Natya Shastra, the oldest surviving text in the world on dance and drama.


Kuchipudi combines fast, intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and graceful movements to tell stories, often drawn from historical or cultural themes. Like ballet, Kuchipudi places a strong emphasis on precision and technique, with dancers conveying emotion and narrative through their movements and facial expressions.


Today, Kuchipudi is recognized and appreciated worldwide for its beauty, skill, and cultural significance, continuing to enrich the global performing arts scene.

ABOUT ASWATHI

Aswathi Arun Konkoth (formerly Aswathi Kunnath) began her training in Kuchipudi at the age of six in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Since 1994, she has been under the guidance of her guru, Smt. Lakshmi Babu (Founder and Director of Kuchipudi Dance Academy (KDA)) and a direct disciple of the legendary Padma Shri Dr. Sobha Naidu.


Aswathi presented her first solo performance at Guruvayur Temple in Kerala, India, in 2001. She has since participated in numerous performance tours throughout the East Coast and Kerala. During her early years of training, she also performed competitively through organizations including the Association of Indians in America (AIA) and the Indian Dance Educators Association (IDEA), earning top honors for several consecutive years.


In 2004, Aswathi was cast in the lead role of Srinivasa/Venkateshwara in the Kuchipudi dance drama Kalyana Sreenivasa, presented by Guru Smt. Lakshmi Babu and the students of Kuchipudi Dance Academy.

Her notable performances include appearances at the Asianet Festival in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; the 26th InterFaith Concert at Washington National Cathedral; the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C.; and the 2012 National Geographic Bee hosted by Alex Trebek. In 2023, she performed alongside her guru and fellow KDA artists at the All-Indian Dance Festival on the renowned Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York City.


On July 4, 2026, Aswathi completed her Rangapravesam (the formal solo performance marking an important milestone in a Kuchipudi artist's journey), at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, Maryland. She became the 51st student of Guru Smt. Lakshmi Babu to achieve this distinction.


Aswathi's dedication to teaching began in 2011, when she co-founded Little Bells at KDA, an introductory dance program for children ages three to five. Her students performed at cultural events throughout the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. During the global pandemic, she continued teaching KDA students virtually while advancing her own training through international and socially impactful online learning initiatives established by her guru.


In 2021, with the guidance and blessings of her guru, Aswathi founded Kuchipudi with Aswathi, a dance academy based in Purchase, New York, serving students throughout the New York Tri-State area. As its founder and artistic director, she is committed to providing structured, thoughtful training, helping students develop discipline, confidence, cultural understanding, and a lasting appreciation for Kuchipudi.


Kuchipudi with Aswathi is a SAMPADA-affiliated school participating in the SiliconAndhra–Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University certification program.



In June 2026, Aswathi earned her Master of Arts in Kuchipudi from Aria University, formerly the University of Silicon Andhra. As a performer, educator, and mother of two daughters, she is deeply committed to preserving the traditions of Kuchipudi while sharing the art form with the next generation of students in New York and beyond.