Padmashree Kannappan
Dancer. Teacher. Performer.
Padmashree Kannappan is the founder and artistic director of Shree Kala Vihara. With years oftraining under some of the most respected names in the field of Bharatanatyam, she brings awealth of experience, discipline, and passion to her teaching.
She is currently a dedicated disciple of Sri Renjith Babu and Smt. Vijna Vasudevan, known for their depth of knowledge and innovative approach to the classical tradition. Her early training
began under Smt. Prabhavati Satheesh Kumar, laying the foundation of her artistic journey.
Padmashree further immersed herself in the art during her time at Kalakshetra Foundation, where she spent three transformative years learning under various distinguished gurus. To deepen her understanding of the movement vocabulary, she completed the Karana course under the legendary Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, studying the classical temple sculptures that inform Bharatanatyam’s origins.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Bharatanatyam from the Bridge Academy of Fine Arts,
combining strong academic grounding with creative performance.
With this diverse background, Padmashree offers students a well-rounded, sensitive, and
deeply rooted approach to learning Bharatanatyam.
Our Philosophy
At Shree Kala Vihara, we believe that dance is a sacred offering — not just to the stage, but to oneself.
Our philosophy is simple: preserve tradition, nurture creativity, and cultivate discipline. The name “Kala Vihara” means Temple of Arts, and we treat our space and practice with the reverence that a temple invites.
We offer a nurturing yet rigorous environment where students are encouraged to explore the spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions of Bharatanatyam. Every class is an opportunity to
learn, reflect, and grow — both as an artist and as an individual.
