“Dance has been my passion since childhood. While I knew about other classical dance forms, it wasn’t until I was in 7th grade that I discovered Perini Natyam, the cultural art form of Telangana.

That summer, Perini Sandeep Master from my school announced he would teach Perini Natyam classes for free. My sister wanted to join, so I decided to tag along. At first, I didn’t plan on learning, but as I watched her and got involved, I started enjoying it. Before I knew it, I was learning Perini Natyam too.

Initially, my parents weren’t very supportive of me pursuing dance. But as they saw me perform at different events and the recognition I received, they began supporting my journey.

Perini Natyam dates back to the Kakatiya dynasty, when warriors performed it before battle. The energy and grace of the dance are unique. It’s been 8 years now, and I’m still learning and performing this art form, which was revived by the legendary Nataraja Ramakrishna garu.

For years, people thought Perini Natyam was only for men. But thanks to visionaries like Dr. Kala Krishna Garu, both men and women now perform it, in styles like Perini Thandavam and Perini Lasyam. Since Telangana became a state in 2014, there’s been more focus on preserving and promoting our cultural heritage, which has helped bring attention to this art form.

I’ve had the privilege of performing across India. One of my proudest moments was performing in front of Telangana CM Revath Reddy sir and Minister Seethakka madam, among other dignitaries. Moments like these remind me why I chose this path.

Today, I train 10 students in Hyderabad under the guidance of Perini Sandeep Master. I’m grateful to Perini Rajkumar master, Harikrishna Mamidi sir, and others who have helped take this art form forward alongside my Guru.

I’ve performed over 1,900 times, but this is just the beginning. My dream is to take Perini Natyam to more people and inspire the next generation.

Perini Natyam is more than just a dance; it’s a symbol of Telangana’s rich heritage, and I want to see it thrive for years to come.”

• Perini Chitty, Classical Dancer