Priyanka V.

Priyanka Vempati has the distinction of learning different art forms such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam. Her training in dance started at a very tender age under the able guidance of Smt Kalamandalam Satyabhama, and Smt Girija Chandran. She mastered the art forms with great discipline, and her outstanding performances enrich her credit of top prizes.Her passion towards these art forms guided her to join Sree Shankaracharya University of Sanskrit, where she pursued her Bachelor of Arts in Mohiniattam, under the able guidance of Kalamandalam Smt Leelamaniamma.Priyanka’s unconditional passion towards dance further directed her to the legendary Guru Padmabhushan Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam and Kalaratna Vempati Ravi Shankar, from whom she received tutelage. Priyanka is a devoted and disciplined dancer with an artistic foundation. She has taken part in most of Vempati’s solo performances and dance dramas. She is also trained in music under Guru Smt Gomati Sree ( daughter of the legendary Sri Dakshinamurthy Swami) and Smt.Jayasree Malladi.She showcases nuances with a tremendous sensitivity towards technique, and with enticing exuberance. She soon made herself a promising artist and started playing lead roles in Vempati’s dance dramas. In 2004, the Maestro himself, Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam selected Priyanka to be debuted in her very first role in his dance drama ‘Kirataarjuneeyam’ where Priyanka danced the role of “Dakshayani”.This was her very first time performing in a Vempati Chinna Satyam dance drama where she was privileged to be selected as the female main role.A few of these performances include: Rukmini in Rukmini Kalyanam, Parvathy in Haravilasam, Sita in Ramayanam, Lakshmi in Ksheerasagara mathanam, Satyabhama in Sree Krishna Parijatham, and Adisakthi in Nava Durga ballet conducted by Sri Vempati Ravi Shankar. Priyanka has also given several lecture demonstrations at places such as University of Hyderabad, Bombay Archeological Museum, where she is one of the two people to ever give a lecture demonstration, Lasyakalpa foundation,Mudra festival,The Temple of Fine Arts, University of Maryland,World of Kuchipudi episode Washington DC.. Priyanka’s journey continues with a great zeal towards dance. To her credit, for more than a decade, Vempati Ravi Shankar’s choreographic works are being done on her.She continues to mesmerize audiences with gazelle like grace in every performance. She has performed widely with her guru’s in India, all the Middle eastern countries, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, America and Australia to name a few. What marks Priyanka as a unique dancer is her total involvement, complete commitment, and consummate dedication. Her life took a turn when she became the better half of Guru Sri Vempati Ravi Shankar.She is a recipient of the 11th Devadasi National Award. Priyanka is the Director of Vempati Ravi Shankar School of Kuchipudi.