Kuchipudi, originally called Kuchelapuri or Kuchelapuram, a hamlet in Krishna district is the classical dance form from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it grew largely as a product of Bhakti (devotion) movement beginning in the seventh century CE.
Kuchipudi derives its name from the village of Kuchelapuram. It is known for its graceful movements and its strong narrative or dramatic character.
Both geographically and stylistically, Kuchipudi dance can be best understood as located between the classical dance styles of Odissi and Bharatnatyam.
Evidence of Kuchipudi’s existence in an older version are found in copper inscriptions of the 10th century, and by the 15th century in texts such as the Machupalli Kaifat.
Kuchipudi largely developed as a Krishna-oriented Vaishnavism tradition, and it is known by the name of Bhagavata Mela in Thanjavur.

The Kuchipudi is a dance-drama of Nritta, Nritya and Natya. The Nritta consists of teermanams and jatis, the Nritya of Sabdams, and the Natya of acting with mudras for the songs.
While fast becoming a solo presentation, Kuchipudi still has strong ties to the dance-drama tradition. It combines the elements of speech, mime and pure dance.

The music used in Kuchipudi is classical Carnatic.
Kuchipudi today is performed either as a solo, duet or a group presentation, but historically it was performed as a dance drama, with several dancers taking different roles.
The musical instruments used to accompany Kuchipudi dance are Mridangam, Manjira (Thalam), Veena, Violin, Kanjira, Surpeti, Venu and Tanpura.

From the later part of the fourth decade of this century a sequence of the presentation of the solo recital has been widely accepted.
A recital of Kuchipudi begins with an invocatory number, generally Ganesha Vandana.
It is followed by nritta, that is, non-narrative and abstract dancing. Usually jatiswaram is performed as the nritta number.
Next is presented a narrative number called shabdam. One of the favourite traditional shabdam number is the Dashaavataara. Manduk Shabdam is another popular solo element which tells the story of a frog.
The Shabdam is followed by a natya number called Kalaapam.
A Kuchipudi recital is usually concluded with tarangam. In this the dancer usually stands on a brass plate locking the feet in shakatavadanam paada and moves the plate rhythmically with great dexterity.
Both lasya and tandava elements are important in this dance form.
Jala Chitra Nitryam – It is the item where the dancer draws pictures on the floor with his or her toes while dancing.