By Nicole Cosentino, Special Writer
South Brunswick High School Class of 2012 graduate Priyanka Tadepalli performed a native Indian dance routine at the Center for Kuchipudi Dance in Kendall Park on July 14.
”She is an excellent dancer,” Ms. Tadepalli’s mother, Renu Tadepalli, said. “Her expressions show great maturity of understanding the dance and being able to reproduce what her teacher had taught her.”
Priyanka danced her “Rangapravesam,” which is a Sanskrit word meaning “debut.”
According to the performance’s pamphlet, Rangapravesam “marks a student’s first entry on to the stage of dance. (It) is not necessarily the pinnacle of a dancer’s life, but rather a step towards further endeavors and future challenges in the pursuit of dance as an art.”
Priyanka’s guru, or dance instructor, Indira Dixith, is a disciple of Padmabhushan Dr. VempatiChinna Satyam, according to the pamphlet distributed by the dance center.
Priyanka has been dancing since she was 4 years old, according to her mother.
”Priyanka used to learn classical ballet,” Ms. Tadepalli said. “She has been learning Kuchipudi dance for eight to nine years. She has to practice every week just like any other extracurricular activity.”
Kuchipudi dance is different from other classical Indian styles of dance because it combines dance, hand and facial gestures, speech and song. According to the pamphlet distributed by the dance center, its graceful movements and narrative nature characterize it.
”She will be the very first one on both sides (of my family) to know how to dance this way,” Ms. Tadepalli said.
Roughly 300 people attended Priyanka’s performance, and the guest of honor was local community member John Saccenti.
”We are honored to have him at the event as one of the leaders in our community, who appreciates and encourages cultural diversity in our local youth,” Ms. Tadepalli said.
She said Mr. Saccenti is the founder and chief educator at Career Development Institute in South Brunswick, has served as president of the National Association of Local Boards of Health and advised the U.S. Surgeon General and the White House on public health policy. He also has served as a consultant to the Office of the Attorney General, Office of Counter-Terrorism. He serves as a consultant to the United States Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime.
Mr. Saccenti said he was honored to attend the event.
”(The dance) was an eye-opener and motivation for the children who are growing up away from their homeland,” Ms. Tadepalli said. “Children were so motivated by what (Priyanka) was doing that they started imitating her in the back of the auditorium. This is the motivation that is needed for the community.”
Kuchipudi dance requires much more than a sense of rhythm, Priyanka’s mother said.
”Being able to use the different kinds of expressions to bring out the story (is very important). You should be able to show anger and then in the next second be able to show happiness,” Ms. Tadepalli said of the dance style.
According to Ms. Tadepalli, Kuchipudi dance dates back more than 2,000 years. Priyanka wore traditional costumes from India during the performance.
Priyanka will attend Rutgers in the fall where she will major in science, then go into the medical field after graduation, Ms. Tadepalli said.

