Smt. Neelima Gaddamanugu
Founder & Director – Nataraja Natyanjali Kuchipudi Dance Academy Atlanta, GA – USA
Smt. Neelima Gaddamanugu began her Kuchipudi journey at the age of four under Guru Smt. Mythili Prabhakar and continued her advanced training under Guru Sri Dandibhotla Narayana Murthy, a senior disciple of Padma Bhushan Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. Over 18 years of rigorous training shaped her into a distinguished performer, earning numerous gold medals and accolades across Andhra Pradesh. She has given over 1,000 performances throughout India.
In 2002, Neelima founded the Nataraja Natyanjali Kuchipudi Dance Academy in Atlanta to promote the richness of Indian classical arts and heritage. Starting modestly, the academy now trains over 200 students aged 3 to 40+, offering classes in Kuchipudi and traditional folk dances. Officially registered in 2006, the academy has grown into a leading institution for classical dance in the Southeast U.S.
Beyond dance education, Guru Neelima has dedicated her art to humanitarian causes through fundraising events:
- 2009 – Raised funds for Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Riverdale
- 2011 – Supported an old age home in Kakinada and Datta Temple in Gangapur, Maharashtra
- 2012 – Choreographed “Panchabhoota Prasasthy,” a 20-minute Kuchipudi dance drama for the 12th ATA Convention with 40 students
- 2014 – Presented “Hanumad Vaibhavam” to support land acquisition for Hanuman Mandir in Alpharetta, GA
- Also performed the same production to support temple construction in Raleigh, NC
- 2015 – Participated in SEWA International fundraisers and raised funds for HUDHUD Cyclone relief in Vizag, AP
- 2016 – As Cultural Co-chair of NATA, choreographed the grand inaugural performance with 100+ students
- 2017 – Annual recital raised funds for Amanvedika orphanage in Hyderabad
- 2019 – Fundraising recital supported PURE and Santiniketan Rehabilitation Center
- 2020 – Led a 100-day Natyanjali Kuchipudi awareness festival during COVID with 90 students to support Sankara Netralaya
- 2022 – Raised funds for SARS – Sweekar organization, supporting autistic children in India
- 2023 – Raised $715,000 for Sankara Netralaya to enable 11,000 free cataract surgeries, with a performance by 75 students
- 2024 – As ATA Cultural Chair, choreographed the inaugural performance with 200+ students and led a prime-time Kuchipudi production on Yadagirigutta Narasimha Swamy with 25 senior students
- Also collaborated with three other academies to raise $1.2 million for Sankara Netralaya to fund free cataract surgeries across India
Neelima has received honors from organizations such as NATA, ATA, TAMA, GATA, GATeS, SEWA, VIBHA, PURE, and Sankara Netralaya. She has served in key leadership roles, including National Cultural Chair for NATA (2018–2020), ATA Cultural Chair (2023), and Trustee & National Cultural Chair of Sankara Netralaya (since 2021).
Through her teaching, Neelima instills not only the discipline of classical dance but also values like compassion, teamwork, confidence, and creativity. With 26 Rangapravesams completed and counting, she remains a passionate torchbearer of the Kuchipudi tradition—deeply rooted in culture and driven by purpose.
