G Sundaramoorthy
| Photograph Credit score: Particular Association
“Dancing wasn’t nearly shifting to the rhythm for me; it was a journey of self-discovery,” shares G Sundaramoorthi, reflecting on his extraordinary path from hardship to world recognition.
Sundaramoorthi’s dedication to his craft led him to obtain a monumental feat: showcasing 154 kinds of conventional dances over 65 hours, incomes him a coveted place within the Asia E-book of Information. Born in Gobichettipalayam, Sundaramoorthi’s path to changing into a famend conventional dancer was marked by wrestle, resilience, and dedication to preserving cultural heritage. Gunashekaran and his mom Indrani relocated to Chennai when he was three after her divorce, settling in a slum close to Arrakonam. She labored in a clerical put up to assist her household. Sundaramamoorthi’s household’s sturdy ties to the Kambathu Attam, a conventional dance type of the Kongu area, and his mom’s ardour for Bharatanatyam laid the inspiration for his journey into the world of dance.
His love for dancing started in the course of the full of life native temple festivals, the place he danced for hours. Recognising his potential, his mom launched him to Thirutani Kovil Narthagi Mudhugachiyammal, a revered Bharatanatyam instructor. “Personally, I didn’t have any curiosity in studying Bharatanatyam. My mom would give me cash to watch movies with my buddies, with the situation that I ought to study Bharatanatyam. That’s how my journey began,” he remembers.
Three years later, Sundaramoorthi enrolled within the Tamil Nadu Music Faculty in Chennai to research Bharatanatyam, specialising within the Thanjavur fashion and did his arangetram. “Bharatanatyam uncovered a hidden expertise inside me. It wasn’t nearly dance; it was about embracing who I actually was.”
Amidst performances in varied cities, Sundaramoorthi’s starvation for data led him to discover folks arts. Impressed by the colourful stage reveals he witnessed, he delved into studying Karagattam,whereby performers steadiness a pot on their heads and dance to folks songs. This dance is carried out in reward of the rain goddess Mariamman.
G Sundaramoorthy
| Photograph Credit score:
Particular Association
Witnessing the erosion of conventional dance varieties saddened him. He says, “Historically, Karagattam is about dancers gracefully balancing a pot on their heads, clad in elegant sarees. However as we speak, it has misplaced its soul.” Decided to stem the tide of cultural dilution, Sundaramoorthi launched into a mission to grasp an array of conventional dances. Ranging from Karagam, he discovered Therukoothu, Deverattam, Oyilattam, Kokkaliattam, Kavadi Attam, Poikkaal Kuthirai Attam and extra by travelling throughout areas, immersing himself in Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage, studying from masters and preserving the authenticity of every artwork type.
“My day normally begins at 4am and ends late at evening, round 12 am. I by no means felt strained regardless of pushing myself to study a number of dance varieties. It’s solely attainable when there aren’t any expectations and a mindset for steady studying.” After 16 years of steady studying, Sundaramoorthi’s crowning achievement is the world file he now holds for the Longest Conventional Dance Marathon in Asia E-book of Information. He’s additionally a recipient of the Tamil Nadu Authorities’s Kalaivalarmani title in recognition of his contribution to the people arts.
“At 30, I completed my world file efficiency. It was surprising; I by no means imagined myself breaking data,” Sundaramoorthi recounts. “The thought sparked throughout an informal dialog at a university occasion the place I discussed realizing over 200 dance varieties. This joke led to a problem proposed by a professor, igniting my ambition.”
Regardless of the duty forward, Sundaramoorthi was decided. “Getting ready for the world file was no simple feat. Every dance required particular props and costumes, including to the problem,” he explains. “After securing sponsorship and a venue, I devoted two months to intense observe. It wasn’t with out setbacks; I confronted extreme again points and underwent remedy, delaying my preparation.”
Undeterred, Sundaramoorthi resumed observe with renewed dedication. “I initially danced continuous for 32 hours, ultimately setting the file for the longest conventional dance marathon.” Sundaramoorthi’s journey didn’t finish there. “In subsequent years, I set data for the longest Karagam dance and choreographed the biggest Oyilattam efficiency.”
Reflecting on the effective arts of our time, Sundaramoorthi feels, “Each conventional artwork type has the ability to determine its personal future. Not everybody can grasp conventional arts. Solely when the artwork type chooses you’ll you have the option to study, no matter how nice the instructor is or how lengthy you observe.”
