2famrtf at 22:34, 12 April 2026

2026-04-12T22:34:20Z

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{{Short description|Indian classical dancer and teacher (born 1965)}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Deepika Reddy
| image = Deepika Reddy.jpg
| caption = Reddy in 2018
| imagesize =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|09|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India
| occupation = [[Kuchipudi]] dancer, dance teacher, choreographer
| years_active = 1976–present
| spouse =
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2026)<ref name="IndianClassical2026">{{cite web |title=Classical Artists in the 2026 Padma Honours List |website=Indian Classical Network |url=https://indianclassical.net/article/legacy-and-lore-celebrating-classical-artists-2026-padma-honours-list |access-date=2026-04-12}}</ref><ref name="Seven from Telangana named for Padma Shri honour"/><br />[[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] (2017)<br />Telangana State Formation Awards (2016)
| children =
| parents =
}}

'''Deepika Reddy''' is an [[Indian classical dance]]r, choreographer and dance teacher from [[Telangana]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chakravorty |first=Reshmi |date=2018-06-24 |title=Keeping cultural heritage alive {{!}} Keeping cultural heritage alive |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/240618/keeping-cultural-heritage-alive.html |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref> She is an exponent in [[Kuchipudi]] art form. She received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] for Kuchipudi in 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-02-07 |title=Deepika Reddy receives Sangeet Natak Akademi award |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/deepika-reddy-receives-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article26200438.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207132241/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/deepika-reddy-receives-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article26200438.ece |archive-date=2019-02-07 |access-date=2025-03-22 |newspaper=The Hindu |language=en |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She served as the Chairperson of Telangana State Sangeet Natak Akademi from July 2022 to December 2023.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Service |first=Express News |date=2022-07-26 |title=Want to give youth the chance to showcase their talent: Deepika Reddy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/Jul/26/want-to-give-youth-the-chance-to-showcasetheir-talent-deepikareddy-2480784.html |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The New Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Deepika Reddy was born on 15 September 1965, in [[Hyderabad]], [[Telangana]], India. Her father, V.R. Reddy, was Additional Solicitor General of India, Advocate General, composite Andhra Pradesh, and chairman, Bar Council of India before his retirement. Her mother, Radhika Reddy, was a classical dancer who played the lead role in the ballet ''Chitrangada'' for the inauguration of [[Ravindra Bharathi]] in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Want to give youth the chance to showcase their talent: Deepika Reddy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/jul/26/want-to-give-youth-the-chance-to-showcasetheir-talent-deepikareddy-2480784.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220726174340/https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2022/jul/26/want-to-give-youth-the-chance-to-showcasetheir-talent-deepikareddy-2480784.html |archive-date=2022-07-26 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=The New Indian Express |date=26 July 2022 }}</ref> Her grandfather, [[Nukala Ramachandra Reddy]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=అయినంపూడి |first=శ్రీలక్ష్మి |date=2023-01-13 |title=సకలజన బాంధవుడు నూకల |url=https://www.ntnews.com/editpage/chief-minister-kcr-reminded-nukala-ramachandra-reddy-in-the-mahabubabad-sabha-by-naming-a-government-institution-after-them-925608 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113053029/https://www.ntnews.com/editpage/chief-minister-kcr-reminded-nukala-ramachandra-reddy-in-the-mahabubabad-sabha-by-naming-a-government-institution-after-them-925608 |archive-date=2023-01-13 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=www.ntnews.com |language=te-IN}}</ref> was a freedom fighter and served as a four-time cabinet minister of composite Andhra Pradesh.<ref name="election1957">{{cite web |title=Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Election, 1957 |url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/file/4043-andhra-pradesh-1957/ |url-access=limited |access-date=2025-03-22 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]}}</ref>

Deepika Reddy married Shyamgopal Reddy, an industrialist. They have twin children. The daughter is a Kuchipudi dancer and performs in the country and abroad.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mary |first=S. B. Vijaya |date=2023-12-15 |title=Shloka Reddy's solo performance: Dance legacy across three generations |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/kuchipudi-dancer-deepika-reddys-daughter-shloka-reddy-takes-the-stage-in-a-solo-performance-continuing-the-dance-tradition/article67637756.ece |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-12-06 |title=Missed the point |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-arts/chen-dance/Missed-the-point/article15616490.ece |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Career ==
Reddy began dancing at the age of 6. Her debut took place in 1976 at Ravindra Bharathi, where she performed in front of the then chief minister.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2018-06-25 |title=There's so much to give and share through classical dance and that's what makes it fulfilling: Deepika Reddy |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/theres-so-much-to-give-and-share-through-classical-dance-and-thats-what-makes-it-fulfilling-deepika-reddy/articleshow/64721473.cms |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> After her marriage, she trained with [[Vempati Chinna Satyam]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/deepika-reddy-wins-the-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article24217569.ece|title='I couldn't have done it on my own', says Deepika Reddy on winning Sangeet Natak Akademi award|last=Nadadhur|first=Srivathsan|date=2018-06-21|work=The Hindu|access-date=2025-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625033156/http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/deepika-reddy-wins-the-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article24217569.ece|archive-date=2018-06-25|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

In 2000, Reddy founded Deepanjali with the goal of preserving and passing on the art of Kuchipudi dance.<ref name=":1" /> She has trained hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to perform nationally and internationally. She has also trained socially and economically disadvantaged children.<ref>{{Cite news |first=Suhas | last=Yellapantula |date=2018-06-25|title=There's so much to give and share through classical dance and that's what makes it fulfilling: Deepika Reddy |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/theres-so-much-to-give-and-share-through-classical-dance-and-thats-what-makes-it-fulfilling-deepika-reddy/articleshow/64721473.cms|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725131643/https://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/theres-so-much-to-give-and-share-through-classical-dance-and-thats-what-makes-it-fulfilling-deepika-reddy/articleshow/64721473.cms|archive-date=2022-07-25|access-date=2022-07-25|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>

== Notable performances ==
Reddy has performed in [[Khajuraho]], [[Konark]], [[Hampi]], [[Thousand Pillar Temple]], [[Ramappa Temple|Ramappa]], [[Mamallapuram|Mahabalipuram]] and [[Golconda|Golkonda]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nadadhur |first=Srivathsan |date=2018-06-21 |title='I couldn't have done it on my own', says Deepika Reddy on winning Sangeet Natak Akademi award |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/deepika-reddy-wins-the-sangeet-natak-akademi-award/article24217569.ece |access-date=2025-03-22 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> She performed at the [[Ram Mandir|Ayodhya Temple]] in 2024 and [[Maha Kumbh Mela]] in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-25 |title=Mahakumbh 2025: A Dip in the confluence of Spirituality, Indian Culture, and Patriotism - On Republic Day, the 'Sangam' will showcase a Patriotic Display |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096214 |website=PIB Delhi}}</ref> She has performed in dance festivals in India and abroad, including the Festival of India in Berlin, the Sri Lankan Parliament, the Bolshoi Theatre in Russia, festivals in Bangkok and South Korea.<ref name=":3" />

== Awards and honors ==
* [[Padma Shri]] – 2026<ref name="IndianClassical2026" /><ref name="Seven from Telangana named for Padma Shri honour">{{cite news |last1=|first1=|title=Seven from Telangana named for Padma Shri honour|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/seven-from-telangana-named-for-padma-shri-honour/article70550381.ece|accessdate=25 January 2026|publisher=The Hindu|date=25 January 2026|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125185811/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/seven-from-telangana-named-for-padma-shri-honour/article70550381.ece|archivedate=25 January 2026|language=en-IN}}</ref>
* National Sangeet Natak Akademi award – 2017<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=YATC appoints Deepika Reddy as Telangana Sangeet Natak Academy chairperson |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/yatc-appoints-deepika-reddy-as-telangana-sangeet-natak-academy-chairperson20220726233406/ |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=ANI News |language=en}}</ref>
* Andhra Pradesh Govt. State award Kala Ratna – 2007<ref name=":2" />
* Akkineni Nageswara Rao Swarna Kankanam – 2011<ref name=":2" />
* Nataraja Samman by Saduguru Sri Thyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust – 2016<ref name=":2" />

Reddy was the former chairperson of the Telangana Sangeet Natak Akademi.<ref name=":1" /> She was a Governing Council member of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi and was a member of the Selection Committees for Telangana State Awards, Khajuraho Dance Festival, Telangana State women's day awards and Doordarshan for grading dancers. She was a member of Regional Film Censor Board, jury member of Nandi State Film Awards and former Chairperson of the Cultural Committee of the International Children's Film Festival.<ref name=":2" />

==References==
{{reflist}}{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Deepika, Reddy}}
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Kuchipudi dancers]]
[[Category:1965 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian female classical dancers]]
[[Category:People from Hyderabad, India]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]

Deepika Reddy - Revision history

2famrtf at 22:34, 12 April 2026