Kuchipudi is named after the village in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh named Kuchipudi, the shortened form of the full name Kuchelapuram or Kuchilapuri, where it was developed. The history of Kuchipudi dance can be traced to 1st century B.C, according to the ancient Sanskrit text Natya Shastra. It is rooted in the dance-drama tradition, with several dancers taking different roles, employing the three forms of Abhinaya - Nritta (rhythmic dance movements), Nritya (depicting a story through facial expressions &; body movements) and Natya (combination of Nritta & Nritya).