Being a student of Kalaivani Dance Academy from the beginning of my dance journey has shaped me as an individual. I have learned that dance isn’t about pleasing anyone but it’s about losing yourself in it. Padmaja auntie and Siddarth anna are extremely talented and they both have shaped me as a dancer and have a way of dealing with students that is unmatchable. As a student of Kalaivani Academy, I appreciate all the efforts made to help students go beyond physical aspects of dance; to go beyond boundaries and experience the love and joy by losing yourself in dance!
Padmini Sangaraju
Passionate, driven, demanding, talented, caring, genuine, these are some words that come to mind when we think of guru Padmaja. Our daughter Aditi learned Bharatanatyam from her for over ten years and it is hard to overstate Padmaja’s role in Aditi’s development not only as a dancer, but also as a person. Padmaja’s dedication to the art form and her students comes through loud and clear. She sets high expectations and follows it up with strong guidance and support. Always leading by example, she is a terrific role model. Padmaja works very hard and yet is always cheerful and pleasant. She forms a lasting bond with her students and their families. We are glad to call her a friend and wish her and Kalaivani Dance Academy all the very best!
Deepak and Priya
My daughter has been learning dance from Padmaja Kelam for over 6 years now. We did our due diligence before we came to Kalaivani Academy and Padmaja and Siddharth’s instruction has exceeded our expectations. Padmaja is not just a teacher, she is a mentor who focuses on the holistic development of the dancer. She brings out the best in students not by being harsh and dictatorial, but instead by earning their respect by pushing them to excel and supporting them every step of the way. Siddharth’s creativity and talent as a composer only serves to enrich Kalaivani Dance Academy’s performances. We couldn’t be happier with our choice of a Bharatha Natyam dance school.
Sumana Mougal
Our association with Kalaivani Dance Academy has been a truly remarkable experience. Our daughter has benefited immensely from the quality of instruction and discipline imparted by Padmaja, Siddarth, and all the senior students. Kalaivani Dance academy’s annual recitals are very professionally organized which allow their students to showcase their skills and build confidence. KDAMA creates opportunities for their students to participate in various local events and fundraisers. Congratulations to Kalaivani Dance Academy for achieving the milestone of their 50th Arangetram in 2017.
Ganesh K.
Our journey to Annika’s arangetram is something that we will cherish forever in our lives. We owe it to Guru, Smt. Padmaja Kelam. Her attention to detail, total dedication, and incredible sense of musical rhythm helped Annika understand the nuances of Bharatanatyam. In keeping with the spiritual origins of Bharatanatyam, Smt. Padmaja Kelam is well known for her unique philosophy that exemplifies and promotes respect, love, sharing, compassion and understanding. She believes that every child is unique and has a potential that can only be unmasked by rigorous individualized training. She expects and demands total dedication from her students. She gets such pride and joy when her students blossom beautifully at their own pace. Hence, her students truly enjoy this beautiful art from and make it part of their lives. Her passion, energy, and enthusiasm is so addictive. Her crisp and pure dance, clean lines, and flawless execution of eye, hand, and neck movements coordinated with precise steps is truly breathtaking. Over these years, we became family. Guru, Smt. Padmaja Kelam is not only Annika’s Guru but a good friend who continues to inspire and guide us. She will always have a special place in our hearts.