|| Aangikam bhuvanam yasya Vāchikam sarva vāngmayam |
| Aaharyam chandra tāradi Tam namaha sātvikam shivam ||
Kala Taranga School of Performing Arts
welcomes you…
Indian classical arts have roots dating back to thousands of years. Just like the ceaseless waves of an ocean, classical arts provide endless inspiration to human life.
Our school draws its name from the magnificent heritage of Indian Classical arts which have been nurturing the endless stream of artists, art lovers and connoisseurs.
Dance and Music are two faces of the same coin. Not only do they influence each other, one is incomplete without the other! So also, are the sisters Sandhya and Divya. They have reached a milestone with establishing this school of dance and music.
Rooftop Beginnings…
It was at the request and insistence of family friends that Sandhya started teaching the little kids in 1998 in her hometown of Bengaluru. The rooftop space with the colorful sheet covering provided the nice and neat little space. Almost immediately the kids fell in love with the rhythmic patterns of steps being done to the sounds of ‘katte kolu’ – the small traditional wooden base and the stick. It was a wonderful learning experience for Sandhya as well; teaching the little kids and in the process perfecting her own art. Sandhya akka and Divya akka were more than happy to share their knowledge with willing and loving disciples of this art form.
Couple of years later, Sandhya moved to the US after her wedding. There was no doubt that Divya would handle the class efficiently as she had always been a part of learning, dancing and teaching with her sister. Divya, being the naturally gifted teacher she was, brought out the best in her students and trained them excellently.
Move to US…
Wedding, followed by a move to the US, brought Divya too across the shores. The hometown dance class was wrapped up after nearly 12 years.
The artistically inclined population of Phoenix, Arizona, gave a perfect platform for Divya to continue her classical interests. Very soon, Divya’s dance performances garnered attention in and around Arizona. The eager kids wanted to learn from her and so was born the next phase of the dance class in Chandler, Arizona.
Next phase in dancing and teaching…
Moving to Arizona proved to be a lucky chance. The sisters were within driving distance of each other. They often paired up for performances, as Sandhya drove from Southern California or Divya would drive from Arizona. Very soon, Sandhya’s daughter Raaga too joined the sisters and it became a family troupe!
The small bunch of kids who started learning from Divya, soon grew to be a big group. Tiny tots to eager moms started learning and the next phase of teaching took off with a flourish. The well- trained students were spotted at many Art events and cultural programs.
New phase…
A sudden move to California brought about a change and challenge for Divya as a teacher. Students missed her and vice-versa. Adapting to the newer and latest methods of teaching, technology brought them closer. Divya continues to teach online to her Arizona students and in-person in Milpitas, CA.
That move brought the sisters even closer and their collaboration has given rise to many thematic dance recitals winning accolades everywhere.
Wave after wave of these rich experiences of learning, performing and teaching has given rise to ‘Kala Taranga School of Performing Arts’. Backed by their respective families to step up to the next level in their artistic pursuit, Kala Taranga School hopes to soon include music and other art forms in addition to currently teaching Bharathanatya.