Tutored by ‘giants’ in India enabled career to boom

BORN into a family steeped in culture, Kantharuby Munsamy said her grandparents and great-grandparents – doyens of the Tamil language, drama, arts and culture – motivated her to follow suit.

“I was raised in a home filled with culturally-inclined activities.

“My grandparents were the founders of the Siva Nyana Sabha and my great-grandparents founded the Tamil Protective Association, both giant bodies in Pietermaritzburg.

“My late parents also kept their language and culture alive,” she said.

“I recall being about 3 years old and dancing at various cultural events. The audience cheered me on.”

Munsamy said her cousin, Vanitha, used to gather some of the children in the area and teach them different dances from Indian films.

“I knew at that time that I would pursue dance when I was older,” she said.

As the years progressed, the teenager travelled to India alone to pursue her studies in Indian classical dance.

“It was a scary experience. I was only 15 and boarded the ship alone.

“I remember reaching the country and feeling so overwhelmed that I just wanted to return home.

“My family knew some people living there and I asked them to please help me return home, but they encouraged me to stay for at least three months and if I still wanted to go back, they would help me.

“At first I felt myself sinking into a depression, but once I started studying, everything changed.”

Munsamy said she spent four years being tutored by the “giants” in the Bharatha Natyam fraternity in Chennai.

“My dancing career boomed to a successful standard under the tutelage of my gurus, the late KN Pkkiriswami Pillay, a lecturer at the Carnatic Music College, and Natya Kala Chakravathy Pillay.

“I had the opportunity to perform at various events in India, while learning this art form.”

On returning to South Africa, she opened the Natya Kalalayam Academy of Music and Dance, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

“I started out with just five students and taught others at various institutes in the province.

“Today, I have a class of more than 70 students and 25 graduands, who now either teach or are furthering their dance studies in India.”

One of the greatest sacrifices, she said, was returning to India after her second child was born, to study the dance style of Kathak under Guru Gopi Krishna.

“I left two children behind – Deneshvin and Yshrene – to pursue my career.

“It was overwhelming, but I was able to train under this master, live at his home and dance for many hours throughout the day, perfecting this art form.

“When I returned home, I opened more classes and also taught Kathak. I went to India every year to familiarise myself with the various upgraded dance styles.”

In 2010, Munsamy launched the annual Is’timela Dance Festival, which brings together a plethora of cultures and backgrounds through music and dance.

“This beautiful dance festival is performed by dancers of all age groups and cultures. There is a kaleidoscope of dances ranging from classical ballet and Bharatha Natyam to traditional Zulu dancing and colourful folk dance.

“The festival is a wonderful way to build bridges between our diverse communities.”

Munsamy added that dance allowed one to express one’s emotions, moods and ideas.

“You are able to tell a story, serve religious, political, or social needs, or simply experience pleasure and excitement,” she said.