Guru - Satyapriya Ramana ARTIST Vimala Sarma is a teacher and performer of the classical Indian dance style called Kuchipudi. Demystifying Indian dance is Vimala's approach to teaching and performing. Vimala teaches dance from a Western perspective. She uses pilates and yoga for warm-ups and warm-downs. She re-invigorates her technique by visiting a dance school in Chennai every year and performing regularly in Indian festivals as well as in Australia. Vimala's guru is Satyapriya Ramana who has taught for many years at the Kuchipudi Art Academy established by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. Vedantham Ramu from the Academy has conducted her performances in India. She has also done courses with Kalpalathika Krishnan and Bala Kondala Rao, both students of Satyam. She has received awards and accolades including a Certificate of Excellence for her performance at the Chennai Music and Dance Festival on 10 January 2006, been honoured by Satyanarayana Sarma. ...   for more