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