Eminent Kuchipudi dancer Shobha Naidu passes away, fans in shock

Vijayawada: Eminent Kuchipudi dancer and Padma Shri Awardee Shobha Naidu passed away on Wednesday. The 58-year-old-dancer had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Hyderabad for the past few days.

She lost her final breath on Wednesday morning.

Born at Anakapalle Town in Vizag district of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, Sobha Naidu was earned a degree from Queen Mary's College. Shobha Naidu was among the foremost Kuchipudi dancers of India and an outstanding disciple of the renowned master Vempati Chinna Satyam in Krishna district.

Sobha Naidu had mastered the technique of Kuchipudi. She had bagged the lead roles in dance-dramas at a very young age. She performed with her guru's troupe all over the country and abroad, excelling in the roles of Satyabhama and Padmavati. She was also an excellent solo dancer.

Sobha Naidu was awarded Padma Shri by the Government of India in 2001. In 1991 she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award and before that, she was awarded the title of 'Nritya Choodamani' by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha of Madras. She also served as the Principal for the 40-year-old Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hyderabad and trained more than 1,500 students from India and abroad.

Classical dancers in Andhra Pradesh have condoled her death.