Sense of Devotion & Dedication

BESIDES COLLABORATION IN DANCE WITH ARTISTS IN INDIA AND ABROAD, SHANMUGA SUNDARAM HAS PRODUCED DIFFERENT CONCEPTS AND UNIQUE DANCE PRODUCTIONS. HE IS AN ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF THE ANNUAL DANCE FESTIVAL "SARASA NATYA MALA", A FESTIVAL AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS GURU, KJ SARASA. HE ALSO RUNS A DANCE SCHOOL CALLED SARASALAYA. SHANMUGA SUNDARAM IS CURRENTLY UNDER MENTORSHIP OF GURU, "PADMA SHRI” SMT. CHITRA VISWESWARAN

- Kirubakshini

How did your dance career start?

I was born and brought up in a small town in Namakkal. From a small age, my legs wouldn't stay in one place and my feet used to tap on random beats. I started learning Bharatanatyam from the age of 21 under my guru, the late Smt. K.J. Sarasa in Chennai out of passion. My body would best respond to classical dance and that's when I found out my passion for dance.

How many countries have you traveled so far for your performances?

So far I've traveled to 12 countries to perform in different countries. Mostly in Bharatanatyam we do more of Hindu mythologies. When it comes to foreign countries they get attracted by the beautiful body movements. Bharatanatyam represents art and culture. Foreigners have been taught only the subject they know. I got to conceptualise a dance piece in Germany on Jesus' Crucification through Bharatanatyam, which had no dialogues, but it touched the audience well. Once the show was done and I came out of the auditorium, I saw people had tears in their eyes. The biggest achievement for me was when my dance reached out to so many people. At the same time, I also learn so many things while practicing certain sculptures and research about them.