Kuchupudi is a classical dance said to have evolved out of the Nattuva Melas. Kuchupudi is the name of a village in Divi Taluq in Krishna District very near Srikakulam, a place where the Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara empire ruled. the Brahmins here practiced the dance form. Once Golconda King Abdul Hasan Tanesha camped at Kuchupudi for a night and was so impressed with the dance form that he gifted about 600 acres of land to nine families of kuchupudi scholars.

Siddhendra yogi is considered as the first scholar who scientifically framed the art. He was responsible for giving shape to the dance drama and also imparting training to the young Brahmins. The yogi reserved this dance for males and callled it "Bhamakalapam".

In olden days, a kuchupudi performance invariable began with the aura built up initially, like a curtain showing up over which a braided plait was thrown. It was like throwing a challenge to any artist or audience to come and defeat the performer of the evening and then claim the plait, by simply cutting it off.

Ornaments worn from kuchupudi dance were originally made from a light wood called "Boorugu" in Telugu. Shoulder blades, crowns, armlets, arm bands and wristlets were carved out of wood and colored . But Today they have given way to metal ware.

T