On a sunny Saturday morning in London, the soft thump of footwork and the fluid sweep of classical Indian movements fill a studio. Children — some barely eight — move in unison, their eyes bright with concentration. Parents watch quietly, a few holding younger siblings, others tapping along to the beats.

At the heart of it all is their teacher, Arunima Kumar, an Indian-origin dancer and choreographer redefining what Indian classical art can mean to the diaspora. Recently, she became the first Kuchipudi dancer to receive the Honorary British Empire Medal (BEM) from King Charles III — recognition for her “hands-on” service using dance to build community and bridge cultures.

Among her students is 12-year-old Aishwarya, who still remembers performing at 10 Downing Street with her guru. “It was really memorable, especially to dance in front of so many important people and spread the message of Diwali to MPs and the Parliament,” she says.

These moments are more than performances; they’re experiences that help a young generation stay rooted in an ancient art form, far from its birthplace.

When Arunima first moved to the UK, she encountered something she had not expected — a profound lack of awareness about Indian classical dance, and almost no visibility for Kuchipudi. 

The diaspora’s younger generation struggled with a familiar ache: how to connect with their heritage in an environment where such connections were rare. Many felt unsure about their Indian identity, and parents often had no avenues to expose them to meaningful cultural learning.

The problem wasn’t simply ignorance. The UK arts ecosystem was marked by subtle gatekeeping.

Despite being a national award–winning artist from India, Arunima was often slotted into stereotypical spaces — Indian cultural events, temple functions, weddings. Mainstream institutions rarely opened doors. Funding for classical Indian arts was limited and often directed to a handful of legacy organisations.

“Even with decades of training, I had to audition just to be seen,” she recalls.

Her first breakthrough came after a rigorous audition process that led to a performance at London’s Southbank Centre. “That moment changed everything,” she says. Brick by brick, she built a space where Indian classical arts could be practised with rigour — but also with accessibility, inclusion and pride.

Over the years, she created what has now become the largest Kuchipudi institution outside India — an arts ecosystem that welcomes people of all ages, abilities, genders, and backgrounds.

Today, Arunima teaches over 250 students every year across the world, has conducted nearly 1,500 workshops, engaged 100 inmates in prison programmes,........

© The Better India