Vempati Chinna Satyam

Vempati Chinna Satyam (15 October 1929 – 29 July 2012) was an Indian dancer and a guru of the Kuchipudi dance form.

Chinna Satyam was born in a Brahmin family at Kuchipudi, Andhra Pradesh. He was taught by Vedantam Lakshmi Narayana Sastry. He refined his art by learning from Sri Tadepally Perrayya Sastry and later was trained by his elder brother Vempati Pedda Satyam in expressions. As he learned the nuances of this style of dance, he was successful in propagating the Kuchipudi dance form all over the world. He died of old age-related problems on 29 July 2012. He was 83.

Dance Chinna Satyam sublimated and systematised Indian Kuchipudi dance, giving it a more classical basis. He refined the art form, bringing it closer to the standards of Natya Shastra and introduced new elements, e.g. chari (leg movements) of Natya Shastra that are significantly different from the interpretations of other dance authorities, such as Padma Subrahmanyam. Previously, it had been considered a "rustic" (folk) form of dance.