DANCING HER WAY TO SUCCESS
Kantharuby Munsamy on authentic Indian culture, music, food and fashion
UNDERNEATH all the costumes, fake jewellery and makeup, Kantharuby Munsamy, of Newholmes, Pietermaritzburg, referred to herself as “homely”, adding that she enjoyed the simple pleasures in life.
This, she said, included spending time in the kitchen preparing vegetarian meals, and being with family, including grandchildren Vaishnavi, 5, and six-month-old Yaadavi.
Munsamy is married to Colin, a manager at a concrete business, and they have four children: Deneshvin, 39, an advocate; Yshrene, 34, a teacher and Bharatha Natyam dancer; and 27-yearold twin sons – Nireshan, a chef, and Niveshan, an Indian classical dancer, the first male dancer in South Africa to graduate in the Kuchipudi.
Niveshan is currently in India, completing his master’s degree in music and dance.
“Family is important to me and I ensure I make time to see them as much as possible. It is difficult with Niveshan being in India, but this gives me the opportunity to travel to the country more often,” said Munsamy, who has holidayed in Africa and abroad extensively over the years.
“I have been to, among others, Nairobi, Lusaka in Zambia, Mauritius, London and Paris. I have lost count of how many trips I have made to India. “I love sightseeing, visiting temples and attending dance programmes. My favourite place is Chennai.
“I adore the atmosphere and the people and try to attend a music and dance festival there every December.”
While on these trips, Munsamy also indulges in shopping and owns a vast collection of Eastern wear, costume jewellery, artwork and her favourite… handbags.
“I have a huge collection of saris, punjabis, bangles and jhumkas (earrings). I also love the handbags and often bring many back as gifts for my family.” Munsamy added: “But home is where the heart is.”
Walking into her three-bedroom, twostorey home, you can’t help but notice two things: her prayer shrine with the various Hindu deities, and her in-house dance studio.
Munsamy says her day starts with a morning prayer and then she has classes in her dance studio. “After an early morning bath, I pray at my shrine, which is the most precious part of my heart and home.
“Even if I am away from home or out of the country, during my morning prayers I will close my eyes and picture the shrine and call out to the different deities.
“I actually had a priest from India perform a pooja (prayer) and install each deity.
“I head to my studio, mostly on Mondays and Wednesdays, for classes.
“I have students as young as 5 years old who are eager to learn this art form. I start with basic steps, as Bharatha Natyam is detailed and strict, especially with the head and hands movements. It takes time to perfect. I incorporate some folk dance, so the younger students don’t get bored.
“At the end of each year they will write an exam, and I also have a concert and awards evening, where I hand out trophies and certificates.”
Munsamy, wearing a beautiful blue satin sari, matching bangles and jhumkas, said she owned hundreds of saris and punjabis in every colour.
“From a young age, and having spent years in India, I loved the look of traditional wear on women, and wore punjabis every day as a little girl, and saris thereafter.”
A vegetarian, Munsamy said she kept fit by eating lots of vegetables, including green beans, spinach and salads.
“I love my authentic Indian food, so I indulge in potato dosa and idli (rice cake) with sambar (lentil-based vegetable stew), which is my favourite.”
When Munsamy isn’t in the kitchen or in her dance studio, she enjoys listening to music, reading books on network marketing, and she does charitable work.