Academy 2025 Scheduled Programs

Summer Camp June 2-19th, Academy Studio, Spivey Hall Global Music Festival, June 20th, Abhignana Sakuntalam, Clayton Performing Arts Center, June 28th, Rangapravesams at West Forsyth High School - Sruthi Vangavolu Rangapravesam July 12th, Shivanuja Gokarakonda Rangapravesam August 9th! 

Academy is presenting Abhignana Sakuntalam as a community outreach event and a major fundraiser for the advancement of Vedic Studies. The program will be open to all audiences with free entry and will be performed at the Clayton County Schools Performing Arts Center. Seating begins at 3:30 pm and the event begins at 4:00 pm. Please see below for details on the program, sponsorships and donating to the cause.

Sakuntalam is a story derived from Mahabharatha by Mahakavi Kalidasa, a story of the last of the three Bharathas, who ruled the Indian Empire which is now called Bharath after him, during the Dwapara Yuga that precedes the present Kali Yuga. Dushyanta, the King of Hastinapur, falls in love with Sakuntala who grew up in the forest in a hermitage. Dushyanta seeks full consent from her and marries her by exchanging garlands. He gifts her with his ring as a symbol of marriage, and heads back to his Kingdom, with a promise to return soon. Meanwhile Durvasa visits the hermitage and is angered when Sakuntala ignores him as he seeks water. Durvasa curses her and says that the person who kept her thoughts would forget her. Upon pleading he relaxes the curse and says the King would remember when he sees any symbol of their marriage. Dushyanta never returns due to the curse and Sakuntala who is pregnant, is escorted to the Kingdom. Sakuntala on the way, drops the ring in a river Chakra Theertham, when she bathes in the river. The King refuses to accept her as she could not produce the ring and Sakuntala seeks refuge in Sage Mareecha’s ashram. A fisherman finds the ring inside a fish and brings it to the King. The King remembers and immediately goes out in search of Sakuntala and is reunited with her and their son Bharatha in the Sage’s ashram.

For more information on Sakuntalam, the cause and how to donate, please contact Sasikala Penumarthi @404-277-9087, Ravi Penumarthi @404-386-5415, Sridhar Basavaraju @202-641-1329. You can write a check to the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance, OR Zelle @4042779087, OR AKDPayPal. Please note that you don't need to have a PayPal account to use PayPal. PayPal accepts major credit cards. Please add Sakuntalam or Veda Pathashala in the memo.

You can also donate to Sewa International. Please select Atlanta for Chapter, Community Development and Education for Cause, General for Project, and make sure you mention Agiripalli Pathashala in the Comment. You can also make a check payable to Sewa International with a memo "Agiripalli Pathashala".

“This program is supported in part by Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. Georgia Council for the Arts also receives support from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts.”