Ambalam Foundation: Classical Arts for Rural Communities

When we step into schools like Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya or visit the children at Mathrudhaama, we are not just teaching steps. We are providing a consistent path for kids to connect with their roots, which is why we have built a curriculum specifically for these environments, separate from our commercial studio classes.

After helping about 50,000 children in mainstream schools in Tamil Nadu from 2014 to 2018, we took a pause. This break due to COVID allowed us to reflect on where we wanted to focus our energy. Today, we are proud to restart our school programs, with a dedicated focus on underprivileged and rural schools around Bangalore.

We currently teach at the Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya in Kallubalu, a school serving around 23 villages in the area. We also work with students at Mathrudhaama, an orphanage where we have seen incredible enthusiasm for our art form.

Our approach here is different from our private studio training. We want to provide consistent, high-quality music and dance education as a long-term commitment, not just a one-off workshop. We are grateful to our teachers, Aarthi and Medha Bharadwaj, for leading these sessions with the same dedication we hold at our core.

Our goal is simple. We want to ensure that children, regardless of their background, have access to our traditional arts. By introducing them to the rhythm and grace of Bharatanatyam, we hope to give them a sense of cultural identity and confidence.