Gurus

Guru Suba Parmar, founder of Shubanjali, is a highly sought after dancer, teacher and choreographer in NJ. She is the direct disciple of Kalaimamani Guru Indra Rajan and Pandanallur Srinivasa Pillai, respected doyens of the Pandanallur tradition. Guru Suba is recognized as a pioneer in the arts community and her original artistic creations like ‘Santa N’ Shiva,’ ‘Splash the Wonder,’ ‘Chauladevi,’ ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ ‘Lured by the Myths’, ‘Oneness’, ‘Tribute to the Legends’, ‘Tattva Tapas Tejas”, “TATHASTU” among many others have received rave reviews from critics and connoisseurs. She is the recipient of many prestigious awards including the US Presidential Scholars “Most Influential Teacher Award”, presented by the Obama Administration, the Balasaraswati Award of Excellence from Mauthamizh Peravai, the “New Jersey Naatya Kalanidhi” and the most recent “Lifetime Achievement Award” from Spandana, NJ. Her brainchild Shubanjali is celebrating its 30th year in the US and will successfully present the 125th graduation in 2023.

Guru Swamimalai K Suresh, Director of Samarpana Academy of Fine Arts, Chennai & Artistic Director, Shubanjali, NJ, hails from a traditional family of nattuvanars and musicians. His father and guru Pandanallur P.V. Kalidas is a renowned Nagaswara vidwan, of the Pandanallur lineage. His great grandfather Pandanallur Guruswamy Pillai was an Ashtavadani, meaning he could concentrate on eight different activities at a given time. Guru Suresh is the fifth generation artist from his family. He is the grand nephew and disciple of veteran Guru Swamimalai S.K. Rajarathnam under whom he mastered bharatanatyam, vocal and nattuvangam. He is also a senior disciple of violin maestro Shri. Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. Guru Suresh is an accomplished dancer, singer, choreographer and nattuvanar and is the recipient of several awards, including Kanchi Kamakotipeetam Asthana Vidwan Title from Kanchi Shankaracharyar, Ustad Bismillah Khan YUVA PURASKAR from Sangeet Natak Academy, Natya Sangeetha Kala Bharathi from Bharat Kalachar, Chennai and the most recent “Service Award” from Spandana, NJ.