Katherine Kunhiraman (née Siebel)

🪔 About

Katherine Kunhiraman, born Katherine Siebel, is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, recognized for her contributions to Bharatanatyam and Kathakali. Her journey into Indian classical dance began in 1963 when, at the age of 18, she moved to Kolkata, India, with her stepfather, who was an advisor for India's Fourth Five-Year Plan through the Ford Foundation. Immersing herself in Indian culture, she developed a deep interest in theatre, religion, history, and textiles, which naturally led her to classical Indian dances. Kunhiraman undertook extensive training in India for 12 years, studying Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Carnatic music. She trained at the prestigious Kalakshetra in Chennai (then Madras), where she also met and married her Kathakali teacher, K.P. Kunhiraman. She was notably the only Kathakali student at Kalakshetra at one point. Following her time at Kalakshetra, she pursued advanced Bharatanatyam studies with Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan, founders of Bharata Kalanjali in Chennai, becoming their first graduate. Her arangetram (debut performance) in 1969 was the first at Bharata Kalanjali, conducted by Natyacharya Adyar K. Lakshmanan. She performed extensively across India, Lebanon, Egypt, the U.K., and the U.S.A. In 1970, Katherine and K.P. Kunhiraman relocated to Berkeley, California, where they began teaching and performing Indian classical dance. In 1975, they co-founded Kalanjali, an organization dedicated to teaching Indian classical dance, which has flourished for nearly 50 years. Katherine Kunhiraman is celebrated for her unwavering commitment to preserving the ideals of Kalakshetra and disseminating Indian art forms. In 2011, she choreographed "Osiris," a dance-drama retelling the Egyptian myth set to Carnatic music. She continues to teach and honor her late husband's legacy, with thousands of students having trained at Kalanjali. Awards & Honours: Malonga Casquelourd Lifetime Achievement Award (2014), Lifetime Achievement Award (2014), Smaran Kala Koushala award (2024).