Classical Indian Dance: Devadasis in courts and temples

About the event

Dr. Yashoda Thakore's lecture-demonstration explores the rich history of Indian Classical Dance, tracing the interconnected roles of the court, religion, and temple in shaping the dance traditions and lives of hereditary singer-dancer women—the Kalavantulu or Devadasis. Their repertoire embodies these historical influences, reflecting complexities of gender, caste, class, and geography.

Yashoda Thakore is a renowned Kuchipudi and Devadasi Nrityam artiste.

She began her training under some of the foremost exponents of Kuchipudi, including Padma Shri Shobha Naidu, and later studied under Vempati Chinna Satyam for 14 years. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a desire to explore the deeper dimensions of her art, she also trained under Swapna Sundari.

Her pursuit of authentic knowledge led her beyond institutional training to the Kalavantulu—the hereditary women dancers of the temple, court, and salon milieu in the Godavari Delta region of Andhra Pradesh, on the east coast of India. Immersing herself in their tradition, she learned directly from the families who have safeguarded this rich artistic heritage for generations.