HTR’s G. Karunambal Empowerment Award

As a young wife, G. Karunambal traveled from her home in Tiruvidaimarudur to Bombay in British India in 1945. As Gurus in their field, she and her husband brought their precious family art, her ancestral dance knowledge, to share the Bharata Kalai handed down to her family generationally from esteemed Thanjavur nattuvanars. As the country gained its independence, she became a force in Rajarajeswari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir, the family dance school in Mumbai, one who deftly and gently explained and corrected small movements on the side for students after their classes, and who supported students through their varied challenges with inclusivity and kindness, with Bournvita, and with some empowering, comforting words. Through decades and generations, she helped us all belong.

For Hindu Temple Rhythms (HTR) Dance, we work with students using the same methods of our dance masters, and through these past 66 years, we have seen such great upliftment from our alumni and teachers. Graduates of our school are leveraging skills from their time with our Guru Sudha Chandra Sekhar and her family, and reflecting the same compassion and empathy for others in their various fields and toward the world. We recognize the influence of Karunambal “Teacher” on these alumni. Today, in Guru Karunambal’s centenary year, we announce the HTR G. Karunambal Empowerment Award to 4 globally significant recipients who happen to be HTR alumni and/or Teachers. The work they do positively changes the world, and we are proud and grateful for their contributions to improving things for future generations. To learn more about them and who this year’s awardees are, as well as who this year’s Chamathukodam winners are, please join us live at Bharatiya Temple in Troy for Tandav 2024!! We hope to see you there!! Radhe Krishna!

Teacher, we always hold you close to our heart,s and not a day goes by that we don’t remember you or Govindraj Saar, Mahalingam Saar, or Kuppiah Thatha. We are grateful for all the great gurus of Rajarajeshwari who continue to train and guide all of us students around the globe in their family’s treasured Bharatanatyam style. We miss all of you and pray for your blessings in all our endeavors.