Fords is an Epicenter of Classical Indian Dance for Students

"Patrick Swayze used to teach here and danced on this very floor," said Renuka Srinivasan, pointing to the studio of the located in Fords, where she serves as owner and director. Years ago, before it was ever a dance studio, Srinivasan's Tala Shruti was the location of the old Fords firehouse. "I'm the third owner of this studio and when I saw this place, I fell in love. A dance studio has to have the right energy, and this had what I was looking for," said Srinivasan.

Srinivasan moved her dance school to the Fords location in 2006, but before that her dance school had already blossomed. Starting in 1995, Srinivasan made the decision to leave her job as a major make-up artist in the UK and dedicate her efforts to her passion for dance. "I used to hold classes in temples, basements, and ballet studios," said Srinivasan.

The Tala Shruti School of Dance teaches its students Bharatnatyam, a classical form of Indian dance that originates from South India. "We try to keep the old traditions and techniques alive and move forward in this modern age," Srinivasan said.

An important asset in learning the ancient art form is understanding its origins. "You have to have dedication and determination, but you have to really respect the art form. Without respect for it in your heart, you cannot become a dancer," said Srinivasan.

Many of Srinivasan's students start at a very young age. Srinivasan herself starting learning Bharatnatyam when  she was just 6 years old. At age 16, she finished her training and went on to earn a diploma in dance at the Nrityashetra School of Dance in India. While many of her students begin learning at the ages of 5 or 6, the dance studio also holds classes for older adults who did not have the chance to learn when they were young.

A class for older beginners is taught by teaching assistant Deepti Mutnuru, who began her Bharatnatyam training in India when she was just 4 years old and went on to graduate from Tala Shruti. Srinivasan beamed about her student, Deepti Mutnuru.

"In 17 years, I have taught only 3 students the Cobra dance, and she is one of them. She had mastered it," said Srinivasan. Mutnuru received a special letter of recognition from the mayor and Board of Education for her accomplishments in Bharatnatyam.

After graduating from Tala Shruti, Mutnuru never had the intention of putting an end to her passion for dance. "People think graduation is the end but it's supposed to be a start, something that tells you that bigger things are in store for you," Mutnuru said.

Speaking on behalf of her older students, "Girls usually start dancing around 5 and many think that you can't start dance later on in life but if you have the right mindset and make the time, you can do it," said Mutnuru.

When a student has trained in classical dance for many years and continues to prove herself, she can celebrate her graduation, which is known as an Arangetram. The dancer is given the stage to deliver a solo performance and professional artists from Chennai come to witness this special moment.

This year, two students will be having their Arangetram. Anvita Sinha, who has trained at Tala Shruti for 8 years, and Deepika Agrawal, who has trained at the school for 12 years.

Students who wish to train in this classical Indian dance must take it seriously and be prepared to dedicate long hours. "No gum, no Coke in the studio, and every dancer has to wear a uniform," said Srinivasan, who strictly enforces these rules in her dance studio.

Srinivasan choreographs her own dance steps, "I don't copy. I learn and work with other dancers," she said. Recently, Srinivasan has been learning different Western oriented dances, such as ballroom dancing and the Argentinian tango and is experimenting with creating interesting fusions.