Acclaimed as one of the best institutions in training Bharathnatyam in India and abroad, Padmalaya was founded in the year 2001 by Guru Kalaimamani Smt. Padmalaksshme Suresh. In a short span, Padmalaya has witnessed a meteoric rise in the field of art.
Padmalaya blossomed in the year 2001 in Mylapore, a branch of it at Chromepet in 2005 and a branch at Velachery. Padmalaya was instituted to spread the divine art of Bharathnatyam to young aspiring students. Padmalaya disciples have performed in several thematic group productions. A classical-folk dance ballet project “Chidambara Kuravanji” was selected and funded by the Ministry of Culture, New Delhi. “Bharata Swatantra Kuravanji” a dance ballet was staged under the auspices of Tamil Nadu Government’s “Eyal Isai Nataka Mandram” in 2018. “Kadambam” is an innovative venture of Padmalaya, where the disciples perform for different genres of music, for various conferences, marriages and inaugural functions.
For the 6th anniversary celebration, Padma Vibushan Dr Padma Subrahmanyam was invited as the Chief Guest and the proceedings of the event was donated to sponsor one karna statue at Bharata Muni Temple. Before the 10th Anniversary celebrations, as a mile stone in the field of dance, 10 disciples of Padmalaya performed their arangetram in a short span of 2 months, i.e, July 27th to September 25th of 2011. To mark the 15th Anniversary of Padmalaya Dance School, Padma with her senior disciples performed a contemporary dance show “NETHRAA” and the proceeds were donated to Vishnu Eye Clinic for eye operations of 50 under privileged people. The 15th anniversary was celebrated on August 21st and 22nd at Narada Gana Sabha, Main Hall in the presence of Padma Bhushan Nalli Kuppuswami as the Chief Guest and Dr. Nandhini Ramani as the Guest of Honour.
Padmalaya School of Bharatanatyam has been winners in many competitions, to name a few:
- Thakadimitha – Winners (as a duet performance).
- 1st place in Group competition – Papanasam Shivan Dance Competition, 2018.
- 1st place – Rotary Natyanjali, 2019.
- Best Presentation Award Solo Catogery – Rotary Club of Madras Heritage, 2019.
- AIDA Bhilai, 2019.
- 1st place in solo catogery – Papanasam Shivan Dance Competition, 2019.
Themes and Objectives of Padmalaya Foundation :-
Padmalaya focuses to create cultural awareness and appreciation of our classical fine arts among youth. It focuses not only on dance but also on the essential values of life, for art should make them more humane and teach them to cherish and respect the deep rooted culture and tradition of this ancient land. To respect the contribution of veteran Artistes and achievers in their chosen field, Padmalaya gives the “ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” with a honararium during the anniversary celebrations. Every year a sabha secretary is honoured for their contribution to the art field with the title “KALA SEVA PADMAM”.
Padmalaya conducts workshops and lec-dem in the field of dance. The motive of the foundation is to inculcate discipline and maintenance of high standards in classical traditions while encouraging creative, innovative and progressive ideas in fine arts to keep the great and hoary traditional arts alive and vibrant. To support financially backward students who are deserving and talented to flourish in the field of art.
The senior disciples who are teachers of Padmalaya :-
Mrs.Akshayaa, Ms.Vaibhavi, Ms.Vidhya, Ms.Santhya, Ms.Vedha Vidya, Ms.Vriksha and Ms.Jeevitha.