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Arunima Kumar wins King Charles' British Empire Medal
The Kuchipudi dancer has previously performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Modi, among other dignitaries.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Thu, 16, Oct 2025
- 23:43 EDT
- 93
Arunima Kumar / Arunima Kumar Dance Company Website
Renowned Kuchipudi dancer Arunima Kumar was awarded the prestigious King Charles III’s Honorary British Empire Medal (BEM), for services to Indian classical dance and community.
The Honorary BEM is conferred upon non-Commonwealth foreign nationals for exceptional meritorious civil or military service to the United Kingdom or its interests. Established in 1922, it recognizes hands-on contributions to community, arts, sciences, or public service.
Kumar is one of the leading Kuchipudi dancers of her generation. Born in India, she began her dance training at the age of seven and studied with eminent dancers and teachers including Padmashree Guru JayaRama Rao and Vanashree Rao.
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Expressing joy over winning the BEM, she said, "Three decades of service to dance - and today a blessing from the universe and couldn’t be more beautifully timed - thanks to each of you for making this journey worthwhile."
She has previously been recognized with Sangeet Natak Akademi’s prestigious Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskaar for 2008, awarded by the President of India.
Kumar has performed around the world, covering over 35 countries, with over 700 performances and workshops under her belt.
She has choreographed and performed for numerous major UK events including the at Buckingham Palace in 2017 for the Queen's reception to mark the UK-India Year of Culture and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit at Wembley stadium in 2018, where she presented her choreography before 70,000 people and world media.
In a special ode to her family, she noted after the receiving the honor, "To my Mother who chose Kuchipudi and believed in me since I was 5, took me sincerely to my dance lessons , asked me to make the bold move away from a corporate life to the arts , to my late grandmother who gifted me all her silk sarees to make my dance costumes, to my Gurus and and to my daughter Aishwarya, who inspires me to dance, teach and create each day , to leave a legacy for the next generation."
Describing the award as a fruit of "tireless dedication, persistence, love and trust," she thanked "all the doors that opened for me (her) and all the doors that didn't."
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