Dr.Yashoda Thakore

"Life, death, sorrow, love, hate, peace, anger...to me, dance is the language of the soul. It is the telling of the truth" says Yashoda Thakore

'Dedicated, accomplished, versatile dancer both in Kuchipidi and Vilasini Natyam - the dance of the devadasis'.

To Yashoda, dance is life Itself. Fourteen years of intensive training at the prestigious Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad gave her the firm footing that an artiste needs. Under the expert tutelage of Guru Smt. Sobha Naidu, Yashoda blossomed into an expressive, surefooted and confident performer. 

Renowned dance gurus Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam and his disciple Smt. Bala Kondala Rao took her through the finest nuances, honing her into a consummate dancer. A Master's Degree in Classical Dance from the University of Hyderabad not only prepared her to take on a teacher's role, but imparted a distinctive sophistication to her art. 

Dr.Yashoda Thakore is founder and teacher at the Rinda Saranya Kuchipudi Dance Academy since 1997. She is also a guest Faculty at the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad, to teach the nuances of the theory of Indian Classical Dance to the students of Masters Course in Dance-August  to December, 2006 and January to April,2009.

Yashoda Thakore has choreographed Kuchipudi dance dramas such as Sri Andal, Paripoorna Ganga in 2002, Sri MahaGanapati,Gopika Geetam in 2003, Galagala Godavari in 2005, Meghadootam in 2006, Setu Bandhanam in 2008 and even a number of solo items.

Yashoda Thakore earned a Doctoral degree for a thesis on 'The Interrelationship Between Yoga and Indian Classical Dance with Special emphasis on Kuchipudi' after an intensive research of six years, to the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad in 2007. While completing her education she also assisted in manuscript research work under the aegis of National Manuscript mission, Govt. of India 2005 to 2007.She submitted research paper on 'Temple Songs of The Andhra Temple Dancers' to the Sangeet Natak Akademi,New Delhi in 2008. She is a Co-author of the Translation of Nritta Ratnavali, a 13th Century Sanskrit Text to English with Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao. She has also a recipient of Senior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Government of India.

* Founder and Teacher at the Rinda Saranya Kuchipudi Dance Academy since 1997.

* Guest Faculty at the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad, to teach the nuances of the theory of Indian Classical Dance to the students of Masters Course in Dance-August  to December, 2006 and January to April, 2009.

* Guest Faculty for the course of Yoga-Theory and Practice at the Study India Program (SIP), University of Hyderabad.

* Adjunct Faculty, Dance at BITS-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus.

* Sri Andal – 2002

* Paripoorna Ganga - 2002

* Sri MahaGanapati – 2003

* Gopika Geetam – 2003

* Galagala Godavari - 2005

* Meghadootam – 2006

*      Setu Bandhanam – 2008

* A number of solo items

* Earned a Doctoral degree for a thesis on ‘The Interrelationship Between Yoga and Indian Classical Dance with Special Emphasis on Kuchipudi’ after an intensive research of six years, to the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad in 2007.

* Assisted in manuscript research work under the aegis of National Manuscript mission, Govt. of India 2005 to 2007

* Submitted research paper on ‘Temple Songs of The Andhra Temple Dancers’ to the Sangeet Natak Akademi,New Delhi in 2008.

* Attended 40 day Residential workshop under the tutelage of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, organized by AP Tourism in 1999.

* A qualified teacher of the theory and practice of Yoga.

* Co-authored the Translation of Nritta Ratnavali, a 13th Century Sanskrit Text to English with Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao.

* Recipient of Senior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Government of India.

• Yuva Nrityotsav – Trivandrum, 1993

• Ghunghroo - Bhopal, 1993

• Natyanjali - Chidambaram, 1996

• NCPA - Mumbai, 1996

• Sri Vaikuntha Ekadasi - Srirangam, 1996

• Navraspur - Pattadkal (Karnataka), 1996

• Kinkini - Bangalore, 1996

• Kal ke Kalakar - Nagpur, 1997

• Lucknow Mahotsav - Lucknow, 1997

• Lakkundi Utsav - Gadag (Karnataka) , 1998 & 2002

• Attolu Eidu - Lakshadweep, 1999

• Jhansi Mahotsav - Jhansi, 2002

• Ganga Mahotsav - Varanasi, 2002

• Mamallauram Festival - Mahabalipuram, 2003

• Vedyas Sangeet Nrityotsav - Rourkela, 2003

• Kalidas Samaroh - Ujjain, 2004

• Nishagandhi - Trivendrum,2005

• Bharatotsava - Kerala, 2005

• Barak Utsav - Silichar (Assam), 2005

• Brihadeeswara Temple - Tanjavur, 2006

• Chandipur Golden Beach Festival – Chandipur, 2008

• Konark Festival – Konark, 2009

• Nila National Festival - Kalamandalam, Kerala, 2009

• Krishna Gana Sabha Chennai, Dec’2012

• Tyagabrahma Gana Sabha, Dec 2012

• Ranganath Mandir - Hyderabad, 2006

• Toliviniki (First stage performance) - Hyderabad, 2006

• Vilasini ‘06 - New Delhi, 2006

• Doordarshan Archives - New Delhi, 2006

• Vilasini Festival - Chennai, 2007

• NCPA – Mumbai, 2007

• Mamallapuram Festival – Mahabalipuram, 2008

• Mudra Festival – Trivandrum,2008

• Nishagandhi -  Kerala, 2010

• European Telugu Association Convention - Manchester, 1997

• The Regent’s College - London, 1997

• The Nehru Centre - London, 1997

• The Indian High Commission - Dubai, 1997

• Sanskrit Theatre Symposium (ICCR) - Dhaka, 1999

• International Kuchipudi Dance Convention (Silicon Andhra) – California, 2008

• Volos International Festival (ICCR) – Greece, 2009

• St. Petersburg, Russia – August, 2012.

• St.Petersburg, Russia – September 2013

• Abhinaya Sudha - Hyderabad, 2006

• Silicon Andhra - California, 2008

• Mudra Festival – Trivandrum, 2008

• Kalamandalam Deemed University -  Kerala, 2009

• UGC, SAP Seminar on Spectatorship, University of Hyderabad -  Hyderabad,2010

• Conducted 10 day workshop in Kuchipudi at St.Petersburg – Aug 2012

• Consulate General of India, St. Petersburg, Russia on 24th August, 2012

• Madras Music Academy Dec 2012

• Consulate General of India, St. Petersburg, Septem

Scholarship – HRD, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India.

Recipient of Senior Fellowship from Department of Culture, Government of India.