Classical Bharatanatyam training in the Kalakshetra tradition — where the arts are understood as sadhana, not merely performance skills.
TAPAS Academy is the educational arm of TAPAS Cultural Foundation. Founded with the conviction that classical arts are not a skill to be acquired but a life to be chosen, the Academy imparts structured cultural education to young minds — with a focus on classical dance, rhythm, aesthetics, and Indic values.
Over the years, more than a thousand sishyas have attended various courses, workshops, and training modules offered by TAPAS Academy across Chennai.
The Academy’s approach goes beyond technical instruction. Emphasis is placed on discipline, reverence for tradition, understanding of sahitya and philosophy, and the nurturing of cultural sensitivity. Students are encouraged to view the arts not merely as performance skills, but as sadhana rooted in lineage and inner growth.
Smt. Mahalakshmi Ashwin began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of five, initiated into the art by Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale. A postgraduate alumna of the Kalakshetra Foundation, she was trained under Smt. Sharada Hoffman, Prof. N. S. Jayalalshmi, Smt. Krishnaveni Lakshmanan (Aunt), Smt. Ambica Buch, Shri. Janardhanan, Shri. C. K. Balagopalan, Shri. Thomas, Smt. Vijayalakshmi, Smt. Jyolsna Menon, and Smt. Kamala Rani (Nattuvangam). She is also a trained Carnatic vocalist, having studied under Shri. Bhagavatula Sitarama Sharma, Smt. Balasaraswathi, Shri. S. Rajaram, and Shri. P. B. Sri Rangachari.
As a choreographer, she is known for her innovation in classical dance dramas — presenting a balanced combination of Natyam, Sangeetham, and Roopakam, rooted in what she calls the ‘Divine Principles of Natyam.’ She is the curator of the annual TAPAS Natyotsava.
The sacred chain of teacher and student through which the Academy’s tradition has been carried forward.
Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Smt. Sharada Hoffman, Prof. N. S. Jayalalshmi, Smt. Krishnaveni Lakshmanan(Aunt), Smt. Ambica Buch, Shri. Janardhanan, Shri. C. K. Balagopalan, Shri. Thomas, Smt. Vijayalakshmi, Smt Jyolsna Menon, Smt. Kamala Rani (Nattuvangam).
Shri. Bhagavatula Sitarama Sharma, Smt. Balasaraswathi, Shri. S. Rajaram, Shri. P. B. Sri Rangachari.
Reverence for tradition and the inner discipline that classical training demands — as a way of life, not just a skill.
Deep engagement with the literary and philosophical dimensions of Bharatanatyam — understanding the meaning behind every gesture and every lyric.
Learning through the sacred lineage model — direct transmission from teacher to student, as it has been passed down for generations.
Nurturing students to see the arts as rooted in lineage, inner growth, and civilisational responsibility.
The arts are not a skill you acquire. They are a life you choose — rooted in devotion, shaped by your Guru, offered back to the Divine.— Smt. Mahalakshmi Ashwin
Saligramam · Porur · Velachery · Thiruvanmiyur
The Beginning. The first steps into the world of classical dance. A gentle initiation into rhythm, movement, and the spirit of devotion that underlies all of Bharatanatyam.
The Awakening. The student begins to understand. Technique deepens, and with it, an awareness of what the art is truly asking of the practitioner.
The Recital. The student finds their voice. Learning moves from the body into the heart, and performance becomes a natural expression of inner preparation.
The Practitioner. The student is no longer learning the art — they are living it. Rigorous practice, refinement, and the beginning of an independent artistic identity.
The Expert. Mastery, not as an endpoint, but as a responsibility. The Praagnya carries the tradition forward — as a performer, as a teacher, and as a custodian of the Guru–Shishya Parampara.
For enquiries about class schedules, timings, or fees, please visit our Connect page.
Generations of sishyas have trained at TAPAS Academy since its founding. Many have gone on to perform on prestigious platforms, present their Arangetrams, and carry the Kalakshetra tradition forward.
SaiShruthi K Ashwin is a Bharatanatyam artiste and Intellectual Property Rights lawyer, trained at TAPAS Academy and a B-High graded artiste of Doordarshan. An active performer across leading sabhas and temple festivals, she has an extensive repertoire of solo and ensemble presentations and has essayed prominent roles in TAPAS Academy’s thematic and repertory productions. She has performed alongside senior artistes from Kalakshetra and was featured in JIO’s The Great Indian Musical: Civilization to Nation, produced for the launch of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre.
Her recognitions include TAPAS Ashirvada, conferred by her Acharya and TAPAS Cultural Foundation; Best Participant at Nrithya Bharatham; Third Prize at the 58th All India Dance Competition; the Best Performer Award from Parthasarathy Swamy Sabha; Lasya Mohini at Mohana Keralam; Best Performer Awards from Nanganallur Sabha and Priya Fine Arts; and the Yuva Nritya Sadhaka title conferred by ABHAI in 2025. Her research on Intellectual Property and the classical arts received a Parivartan research grant and was presented at UTSAVAM 2023.
Through her performance, research, and teaching, she strives to carry Bharatanatyam forward to the next generation with the same devotion, discipline, and sincerity with which she received the art.
Deepika Shanthakumar is a senior student of Tapas Academy of Fine Arts and has been learning Bharatanatyam at Tapas for over 20 years. Over the years, she has performed at various Sabhas as well as numerous Tapas festivals and productions.
With the blessings and guidance of her Guru, Deepika established the Guelph branch of Tapas Academy in Canada, where she has been teaching Bharatanatyam for the past 5 years. She regularly trains and prepares students for performances and cultural events through Tapas Canada.
An engineer by profession, Deepika currently works in Quality Engineering at GMG Canada while continuing to pursue her passion. Her vision is to preserve the traditions and values of this art form and pass them onto the next generation, while promoting Bharatanatyam and its heritage across communities in Canada.
For over two decades, Bharatanatyam has been Manasa’s most enduring language of expression. Since her arangetram at The Music Academy in 2014, she has grown as both a soloist and ensemble performer, appearing at leading sabhas including Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Natyarangam, Karthik Fine Arts and Indian Fine Arts Society. She is a B-High graded artiste of Doordarshan and a recipient of the Young Talent Promotion Scheme of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram.
For Manasa, dance has always been more than performance. The same sensibility that draws her to Natyam has shaped her work as a policy professional, including her contribution to Tamil Nadu's Art, Culture and Language Policy. Natyam remains the thread that connects her artistic practice, her curiosity, and her larger engagement with the world.
Jananie has been under the tutelage of TAPAS Cultural Foundation for over 15 years. She has performed in many prestigious sabhas, both solos and group recitals, and temple festivals, including Brahma Gana Sabha, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, RR Sabha and various Natyanjalis for Shivarathri. In addition, she has has been an integral part of several acclaimed TAPAS productions, including Lava Kusa, Prahlada, Kannan Thiruvilayadal, Vittala Darshana and Murganum Thamizhum.
Bharatanatyam remains a lifelong journey of learning, exploration, and artistic growth for her. She aspires to nurture this bond with the art through continued practice and performance, approaching each opportunity with sincerity and dedication, while playing her part in preserving and carrying forward the rich legacy of this art form.
A Chartered Accountant by profession, she is based in Bangalore and works with Accenture in the Financial Consulting practice.
Roshni Pendyala has been training in Bharatanatyam for the past 17 years at Tapas Cultural Foundation. Through this journey, she has continued to evolve as a performer, presenting both solo and group recitals at esteemed institutions including The Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, R.R.Sabha, Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and many other leading sabhas and cultural institutions.
Roshni has been an integral part of several acclaimed dance productions by TAPAS, including Bhaktha Prahalada, Vittala Darshana, Lava Kusa, Kannan Thiruvilayadal, Utsava Prabandham, the Thiruvempavai Series, and SENGOL – The Legend of Manu Needhi Chozhan.
Over the years, Roshni has presented recitals under Karthik Fine Arts and at Nadaneerajanam, TAPAS Natyotsavam, Melattur Bhagavata Mela Natakam Utsavam, Chinnamelam, Natyanjali, Kanchi Mahotsavam, HORIZON by ICCR, Rama Rajya Mahotsavam, the World Tamil Economic Conference, and the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aaradhanai, among other prestigious dance festivals and cultural platforms.
Kum. Lakshmi Rajesh has been learning natyam under TAPAS for the past 14 years. She has performed extensively across premier sabhas, festivals and temples, both in TAPAS’s ensemble productions and as a soloist. A Doordarshan B-graded artiste and recipient of the Parthasarathy Swami Sabha’s Best Upcoming Performer award, she continues to explore the art form with discipline and devotion, drawing from her rich family lineage in music to further inform her artistic pursuit. With the blessings of her Acharya and parents, she was also bestowed with ‘Tapas Ashirwada’. Alongside her career in natyam, Lakshmi is a Behavioural Researcher and Counselling Psychologist. She is also the Co-Founder of a Mental Health Organisation, InsightEdge.
Prathithi Manikandan has been learning Bharatanatyam since the age of six at TAPAS Academy for Classical Fine Arts. Over the past 16 years, she has built a strong foundation in the art through dedicated training and regular performances. She has participated in productions such as Prahlada, Vittala Darshana, and Murugu – Muruganum Thamizhum, as well as traditional presentations like Tiruvempavai and Utsava Prabandham.
Prathithi is a Doordarshan Graded Artiste in Bharatanatyam and has performed as a solo dancer at sabhas, temples, and cultural events. She presented her Arangetram on 25 April 2025 at RR Sabha. Alongside her artistic journey, she is currently a Master's student at Technical University of Munich Asia, Singapore, pursuing an M.Sc. in Sustainable Food. With a deep passion for both art and learning, she strives to balance her academic pursuits with her dedication to Bharatanatyam, continuing to grow as an artiste while upholding the values of the classical tradition.
Madhumita Suresh is a Doordarshan-accredited B Grade Bharatanatyam Artist with over 15 years of training, including the last eight years at Tapas Cultural Foundation.
Rooted in discipline and devotion, she views Bharatanatyam as both a spiritual practice and a powerful medium for artistic expression. She completed her Arangetram at RR Sabha in 2025, accompanied by a research study, From Oil Lamps to LEDs: The Evolution of Lighting in Bharatanatyam, examining the impact of stagecraft on performance aesthetics.
Her solo performances include presentations at RR Sabha, Tapas Natyasanskriti, and a ticketed production on the theme Devi for Navratri Utsav 2025. She has also performed in acclaimed ensemble productions at Music Academy, Narada Gana Sabha, Krishna Gana Sabha, and SASTRA. Her repertoire combines technical precision, expressive abhinaya, and a deep commitment to preserving Bharatanatyam traditions.