Kuchipudi dancers are the artists, performing the classical dance form Kuchipudi that originated in the village of Kuchipudi, in Southern India. For a long time, the art was presented by the Kuchipudi dancers only at temples and that too only during annual festivals of certain temples in Andhra Pradesh.

According to tradition, Kuchipudi dancers were originally only men and they all belonged to the Brahmin community. These Brahmin families producing Kuchipudi dancers were known popularly as Bhagavathalu of Kuchipudi. The very first group of Brahmain Bhagavathulu of Kuchipudi was formed in 1502 AD. The programs of these Kuchipudi dancers were offerings to the deities and they never allowed women in their groups. However, in the 15th century, a saint called Siddhendra Yogi, codified the movements of Kuchipudi and enriched the popularity of the Kuchipudi dance form. Siddhendra Yogi is believed to be the pioneer of Kuchipudi dancers. Kuchipudi was next enriched by the advent of the female dancers. Renowned Kuchipudi dancers like Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry, Chinta Krishnamurthy and Tadepalli Perayya, expanded the horizons of the dance form. The reforms brought in this dance form initiated the performance of women, playing the male parts in the dance form.

The Kuchipudi dancers begin their performance with worshiping rituals. A dancer moves about sprinkling holy water on the stage, and then incense is burned. Indra-dhvaja or the flagstaff of the god Indra is then planted on the stage to guard the performance against outside interference. Then the Kuchipudi dancers sing and dance with worship lamps, followed by the worship of Ganesha, the elephant god, who is conventionally attributed for success before all endeavors. The movements of the Kuchipudi dancers are dazzling, rounded and fleet-footed. This dance form is performed to classical Carnatic music and it shares many common elements with Bharatanatyam. In its solo performances, Kuchipudi numbers include `jatiswaram` and `tillana` whereas in group dance it has several lyrical compositions reflecting the desire of a devotee to merge with God.

Beyond the aesthetic differences of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam steps, there are certain types of dancing that are unique to Kuchipudi dancers. The unique Tarangam of Kuchipudi is a stunning performance where the Kuchipudi dancer dances upon a brass plate, placing the feet upon the raised edges. The dancer moves the plate with much balance as the individual traditionally dances on the plate with two diyas in her hands while balancing a "kundi" (small vessel) filled with water on their head. At the end of the dance, Kuchipudi dancer extinguishes the candles and washes his or her hands with the water from the vessel. There are some subtle differences in the costumes of Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancers. The Kuchipudi dancers wear only one fan, which tends to be longer than the longest of the three fans present on Bharatanatyam costumes.

Guru Smt.Vijaya Prasad is one of the most famous Kuchipudi dancers, who has been practicing and teaching Kuchipudi dance for the last 50 years. She started to learn this art form at a tender age of three by none other than the great Kuchipudi Natya Acharya, Shri Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry. She further received training from Guru Shri Yelleswrapu, Guru Shri Nageswra Sarma and Guru Shri Acharya Gautam. She has performed for more than 500 functions throughout India. She is best known for her own unique elegant and mellifluous style. Vijaya Prased is the recipient of many prestigious awards like `Natya Sundra Kala Pravina` and others.

Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, another Kuchipudi dancer, established the Kuchipudi Arts Academy in Chennai specifically for Kuchipudi training. Through his dedication, talent and sheer hard work, he renewed and restored a diluted and cruder form of Kuchipudi, forging a very personal and pure style. Today, because of him, Kuchipudi occupies a privileged position among other Indian classical forms. Kalpalathika is a disciple of the reputed Kuchipuri dancer, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Kalpalathika comes from a cultured and respected family of Landlords of Sirkali in Thanjavur District, the birth Place of Saint Thirugnanasambandar. She made her debut at the Music Academy at Madras. Yamini Krishnamurthy initially started learning Bharatnatyam at Rukmini Devi Arundales Kalakshetra. However, she is also trained in Kuchipudi under illustrious gurus such as Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Shastri, Chinta Krishnamurthi and Pasumarthy Venugopal Krishna Sharma.

The Kuchipudi dancers in the contemporary generation include the names of Divya Yeluri, Lakshmi Babu, Swathi Gundapuneedi, and Anuradha Nehru. These dancers not only perform this art style internationally but also are associated with several Kuchipuri training centers and schools.