

Presently, as a Director
of the Sri RajaRajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir, Guru K Kalyanasundaram
is the torch - bearer of the Tanjore tradition of Bharatha Natyam.
With his innovative and imaginative choroegraphy, he has distinguished
himself in unique presentations at the Manifestations Of Shiva ( World Shiva Meet, Philadelphia, March 1981
), the Sydney Arts Festival and the Singapore Arts Festival. Full
length productions of the compositions of Saint poets Purandaradasa,
Adi Shankara and Thyagaraja; dance dramas Vasantavalli, Thyagabrahmanjali,
Sri andal, Charanapaduka, Skanda Leela, Pancha Kanya, Sri Krishna
Leela, have been very well received by the critics and connoisseurs.
Guru Kalyanasundaram's students have featured at prestigious dance
conferences and festival. In November 1986, along with other eminent
gurus of other classical dance styles, a widely acclaimed presentation
of " National Integration Through Dance ". In 1988, he
was awarded the Sharandev Fellowship by the Sur Singar Samsad for
his outstanding contribution to the art of Bharatha Natyam and the
title of Natya Kalanidhi. Exclusive compositions
of Mahakavi Bharathi( presented at Bharathi’s Centenary Celebrations
at his birthplace Ettayapuram in 1981)and Saint Purandaradasa( presented
on his 500th birth anniversary at New Delhi in 1984) are notable
among the presentations of other composers.
With
his troupe, he has toured extensively, presenting recitals in Australia,
Europe, USA, Canada, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia. In 1989,
he led a 10 - member dance troupe to participate in the First International
Arts of China and presented a programme at Singapore to celebrate
the centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru.
His
latest presentation Jaya Jaya Krishna and Pancha Kanya have been
widely acclaimed. Guru Kalyanasundaram had a successful cultural
tour of Colombia, Mexico and Japan in 1992. On the
joint invitation of Kanada Sangha of Toronto and Ontario Arts Council
and the Sampradaya Dance Academy , Canada, he had choreographed
and presented a special production Purandara Vandana in August 1993.
In
1996, March, with his troupe, he had a successful trip of North
America, where he presented two of his productions, Vasanthavalli
and Jaya Jaya Shankara.
The latest offerings ‘Mahathmanjali’ an unique production
based on the noble ideals of Gandhi and ‘Nandanar’ a
moving dance drama of the great devotee of Lord Nataraja presented
at Los Angeles in July 2002 have received great admiration.
For his outstanding contribution to the art of
Bharatha Natyam some of the Awards & titles conferred upon
him are:
• Sharangdev Fellowship
by the Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai
• Natya Kalanidhi- Thyagaraja Sabha,Tamil
Nadu
• Kalaimamani –1994, Govt. of Tamil
Nadu
• Natya Selvam –1996,Muthamizh Peravai
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award –Govt.
Of India(1999-2000)
• Best Teacher and Choreographer Award-
Madras Music Academy 2002
• Asthana Vidwan Kanchi Kamakoti Peettam
-2003
Conferred During the Golden Jubilee Peetarohana Celebrations of
His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal of Kanchi Peetam
• Sri Shanmukhananda - Dr. M. S. Subbulakshmi Best
Teacher Award
2004, Sri Shamukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha, Mumbai.
• Natya Ratna Award – Sri Shanmukhananda
Sabha , New Delhi, 2005
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