Sukanya Kumar

🪔 About

Sukanya Kumar is a distinguished Indian classical dancer proficient in both Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Her extensive training in Bharatanatyam began at the age of four, with initial guidance from Smt. Shalini Natarajan at Mulund Fine Arts Society. She received advanced training from the late Guru Kalaimamani Mahalingam Pillai and his son Guru M. Vishwanath of Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatanatya Kala Mandir in Mumbai, starting in 2001. She also trained under Kalaimamani Guru K. Kalayanasundaram for institutional programs and is a disciple of Smt. Priyadarsini Govind. Furthermore, she has studied Abhinayam under Guru Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan. In Kathak, Sukanya Kumar achieved Madhyama Purna from Gandharva Mahavidyalay with distinction. [1, 2, 5, 6] Her career as a performer includes numerous solo and group presentations at prestigious venues across India and internationally. She is a graded artiste for India's national television channel, Doordarshan, in both Bharatanatyam and Kathak genres. [2, 3, 5, 7] Beyond performing, Sukanya Kumar is a versatile artist, recognized as a Creative Culturist, choreographer, writer, anchor person, theatre artiste, and event architect. She is adept at integrating electronic media technology into her productions to convey social messages. [1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8] Academically, she holds a BSc in Electronic Media, a Post Graduate degree in Fine Arts (Bharatanatyam), an MBA in Educational Management, and has pursued an MFA in World Dance – Dance Medicine and Technology from the University of California-Irvine. [2, 4, 6, 7, 8] She has also contributed to the arts as part of the organizing core committee of Svanubhava. [2] As a teacher, Sukanya Kumar has been training mainstream dance students and children with special needs for over a decade, with teaching experience at Sivan Arts Academy and Clarke School for the Deaf and Blind in Royapettah. [1, 2, 5, 7] Awards & Honours: 25th Spirit Of Youth Best Dancer Award (2013), Best Dancer Award (2014), Natya Chudar (2015), National Level Senior Scholarship for Bharatanatyam, Vempatti Chinna Sathyam Award for all round excellence in Dance (2015), Yuva Kala Bharathi All Rounder Award (2016), Junior level Scholarship for Bharatanatyam, Natya Ratna (2017), Nalanda Nritya Nipuna (2018), Cash Award in International level Interdisciplinary Classical Dance Competition (2015), First prize in Bharatanatyam competition (2009), First prize in Bharatanatyam competition (2013), Third prize in Bharatanatyam competition (2008), Second prize for choreography competition (2009), Second prize for choreography competition (2010).