Dance is an art form not merely for the purpose of competition but an expression of the soul, a path way to God. Keeping this as the sole objective Dharani (the earth) School of Performing Arts Trust was founded in the year 1987 by Smt. Shyamala Surendran, an accomplished and gifted danseuse.

The school was started with a couple of students with the aim of weaning the students from the frenzy of youth festivals. It has now grown into a full fledged arts institution, encouraging the children to change their outlook towards classical arts , helping them make art a part of their life, irrespective of the profession they follow.

At Dharani, dance and music is a way of life. Dharani’s spacious classrooms have been designed and built in the typical Kerala style. The ethnic architecture, set against a sylvan backdrop, enhances their serene ambience which automatically creates a spiritual mood and helps the students explore and express their creativity endlessly.

Many learn classical dances for winning competitions; others dabble in them as a hobby. The first vitiates the atmosphere around the performance and violates the very spirit of art. The second borders on flippancy. Dharani steers clear of both. 

In a discipline where the learning process never ends, long and rigorous training is everything. Dharani follows the Pandanallur Kalakshetra style of dancing. The school’s approach to teaching dance is based on live instruction and direct experience. The training is supplemented by regular workshops, lecture demonstrations and dance camps.