Sobha Naidu is a popular name among Kuchipudi dancers in India. She was born in Anakapalle, Visakhapatnam district in the year 1956. She was an outstanding student of Vempati. They succeeded in popularizing Kuchipudi as a solo form. She played all the lead roles in Vempati`s dance-dramas from a young age, accompanying his troupe on tour, excelling as Satyabhama in Kalapam and as Padmavati, with her captivating abhinaya. Later she branched off with her own Kuchipudi Art Academy in Hyderabad, and choreographed a number of dance-dramas following the Vempati concepts. Her academy has the credit of producing 15 ballets and 80 solo items.
Career of Sobha Naidu
Over the years she has performed in various stage shows. She presented various concepts on stage like Ballets Vipranarayana, Kalyana Srinivasam, Sri Krishna Saranam Mama, Vijayosthuthe Naari, Ksheera Saagara Madhanam, Sarvam Saimayam, Jagadaananda Kaaraka, Girija Kalyaanam, Swami Vivekananda and the latest Navarasa Natbamini in which she was the main protagonist. Added to this she even donned various roles like Satyabhama, Chandalika, Deva devaki, Padmavathi, Mohini, Sai baba, Goddess Parvati and many more which won her great love and appreciation.
Her dance performances have not only won her accolades in India, but she has received huge praise in foreign land as well. She represented India and performed in places like U.K, Baghdad, Kampuchea, U.S.S.R, Syria, Turkey, Hong Kong, and Bangkok.
She also led a dancing delegation to West Indies, Mexico, Venezuela, Tunis and Cuba on behalf of Government of India.
Sobha Naidu trained more than 1500 students, both from India and aboard.
Awards Received by Sobha Naidu
* Padma Shri award in 2001
* Nritya Choodamani award in 1982
* She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to Kuchipudi dance in 1991
* Nritya Kala Siromani award in 1996
* Late Sri N T Rama Rao award in 1998
* AP State Government Hamsa award
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