(Dr Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad)
Each human being is endowed with different types of talent, such as sports, singing, dance, the arts, etc. Here is the case of a woman who completed her engineering degree and pursued dance, and through dance, she has become a well-known figure. it is noteworthy to mention that dance is an art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoire of movements, or by its historical period or place of origin. Dance is typically performed with musical accompaniment, and sometimes with the dancer simultaneously using a musical instrument themselves. Two common types of group dance are theatrical and participatory dance. Both types of dances may have special functions, whether social, ceremonial, competitive, erotic, martial, sacred, or liturgical. Dance is not solely restricted to performance, as it is also used as a form of exercise and occasionally as training for other sports and activities. Dance performances and competitions are found worldwide, showcasing a diverse range of styles and standards (Wikipedia).
Dr. (Mrs.) Y. Lalitha Sindhuri was born on March 17, 1991, in Amalapuram, East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, to Mrs. Varalakshmi and Mr. Venu Gopala Krishna Prasad. Her Mother is a homemaker, and her Father is a retired bank employee. She completed her B.Tech in Computer Science, pursued her MA (Dance) from the University of Hyderabad, earned a Diploma in Kuchipudi with Distinction, and completed her Ph.D. under UGC-JRF in Dance under the guidance of Dr. Aruna Bhikshu. She trained under the tutelage of esteemed Gurus Sri Pasumarthi Srinivasulu, Vedantam Satya Narasimha Sastry, and Sri Jaikishore Mosalikanti (Chennai). She has performed over 1,000 dances across India and abroad. Her husband is a software engineer. They are blessed with a daughter. Her inspirations include her grandfather, the late Shri Vempati Venkata Narayana, Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, and Padma Shri Sobha Naidu. She was awarded the HRD and Ministry of Culture scholarships and was selected for the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Fellowship in 2017. She also received an international scholarship in the USA. Dr. Lalita Sindhuri is currently serving as Assistant Professor and Coordinator for the Fine Arts and Performing Arts Department of GITAM University, Hyderabad. Over the years, she has been honoured with numerous awards and titles from distinguished personalities. A few notable ones include: a) Balashree National Award from the then President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam (2005), b)Balaratna from the then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (2004), c) Natyamayuri (2009), Nritya Bharati and Nritya Koumudi (2010), d)Abhinava Rasadhuni and Outstanding Young Person Award (2011), e) Nritya Sharada and Nritya Vilasini (2013), f)Abhinaya Nrutya Shiromani (2014), and Natya Manjeera (2015).
She has received accolades and blessings from cultural icons, political dignitaries, and members of the film industry alike.
Her notable performances include: a) Festival of Paris (July 2023), sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, b)Chilanka Festival, Kerala (February 2025),c) Conference by the Mittal Institute, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, d) Performance at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, e)Performance at Nada Neerajanam, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams, f) Multiple performances across several prestigious venues in the USA, including New York, New Jersey, and Boston.
She has proved that if there is a will, there is a way. Therefore, age and gender should not be barriers in life to achieving one’s zenith.
(The author extends his grateful thanks to Mr. Durga Prasad Yarasuri, Retd/Manager, The Institution of Engineers (India), Andhra Pradesh State Centre, Vijayawada for providing basic inputs about Dr. (Mrs), Lalitha)
(Author is Former Professor & Head (CPME), NIRD & PR)