Kalaivani
School of Indian Classical Arts

Kalaivani School Of

Indian Classical Arts

WA’s First School of Indian Classical Arts
with heritage over 40 years.

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Natya Aachaarya Mani
Smt Jayalakshimi Raman
Founder and Artistic Director of Kalaivani

Smt Jayalakshimi is recognised as a pioneer in the South Indian traditional dance form, Bharata Natyam both in Singapore and Western Australia. She has taught dance and music successfully for over 56 years, and has been honoured for being an outstanding ambassador for Kalakshetra Foundation, the world renowned institute for Bharata Natyam in India.

In 2015, Jayalakshmi was awarded a lifetime achievement award in Singapore bestowed with the title of ‘Natya Aachaarya Mani’ by Apsaras Arts. That same year, she received the ‘Jeeyar Award of Excellence for her Pioneering Service to Indian Classical Dance in Western Australia’ from JET Australia Foundation. As a pioneer of Bharata Natyam, Jayalakshimi was also invited in 2019, by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society to present a workshop to mark the 70th year of Indian dance in Singapore.

Kalaivani School of Indian Classical Arts marked its 40th anniversary in Western Australia in 2023.

Lifetime Achievement Award
from Apsaras Arts, Singapore 2015

Distinguished guru, performer, vocalist,
choreographer and orchestra lead

Jayalakshimi had a passion for dance and music at an early age. Recognising her deep yearning for the arts, her parents brought her from Singapore to Chennai, India to study Bharata Natyam at Kalakshetra when she was just 14 years of age. Kalakshetra became her home. She graduated from Kalakshetra in 1967, after five years of intensive training in Pandanallur bani, now known as Kalakshetra style. While studying Bharata Natyam, she was trained in Carnatic music by the late Budalur Krishnamurthy Shastri who was also the principal of the Carnatic College in Chennai.

Worthy of note, during her time at Kalakshetra, Jayalakshimi was privileged and honoured to have been mentored by her guru, the Founder and Principal of Kalakshetra, the late Rukmini Devi Arundale, credited for the renaissance of the Bharata Natyam dance form. She has been named in India Today’s list of ‘100 People Who Shaped India.’

‘’ I am grateful to my loving parents for their support and for giving me this opportunity. My heart felt gratitude to all my gurus (teachers) for teaching me this beautiful art. To this day, late Rukmini Devi Atai, our principal, founder of Kalakshetra and pioneer for Bharata Natyam in India is my most admired and respected mentor. She lovingly called me Chettiponnu.‘’

– Smt Jayalakshimi Raman

Kalaivani
School of Indian Classical Arts

Over the years, Kalaivani has presented Perth audiences with annual performances including the Indian dance styles of Bharata Natyam, Odissi, folk dances and dance dramas including Andal Thiruppavai, Krishna Leela, Shiva Leela, Sapta Damaru, Nritya Ragam, Kuravanji, Natya Dhvani, Natya and Gita Govindam. Many of these dance dramas were choreographed by Jayalakshimi. Kalaivani has also produced a number of outstanding graduates who have completed their graduation ceremony, referred as arangetram (first full repertoire performance by a student after many years of studying the art), some of whom have established their own successful dance schools.

Passion for Community Service,
Arts and Culture

Jayalakshimi and Raman as ardent supporters of the Western Australian community have contributed in many ways to developing an understanding of Indian culture, education and arts. Their 40 years in Western Australia has had a monumental impact on our community which includes pioneering Indian classical dance and music in Western Australia, promoting and supporting multiculturalism as founding members of the North Perth Ethnic Music Centre (later known as KULCHA), participating in countless fundraising events including Perth Children’s Hospital and Channel 7’s Telethon, developing emerging artists in both dance and music, facilitating workshops to promote a greater understanding of Indian art and culture, and supporting a diverse range of organisations and regional towns.

Kalaivani's beloved late Sri Raman Kuppusamy

Geethvani, Kalaivani’s traditional Carnatic orchestra was formed in 2021, and named in memory of Raman’s ensemble during his time at Loyola College, in Chennai. The orchestra composed of vocals, mridangam, violin, flute and veena became the first ensemble to accompany a dancer’s graduation ceremony (first solo debut of a dancer’s full repertoire). Geethvani is led by Jayalakshimi on vocals and cymbals. Prior to this orchestra, musicians were sourced from interstate and overseas.

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Natya Aachaarya Mani
Smt Jayalakshimi Raman
Founder and Artistic Director of Kalaivani

Smt Jayalakshimi is recognised as a pioneer in the South Indian traditional dance form, Bharata Natyam both in Singapore and Western Australia. She has taught dance and music successfully for over 56 years, and has been honoured for being an outstanding ambassador for Kalakshetra Foundation, the world renowned institute for Bharata Natyam in India.

In 2015, Jayalakshmi was awarded a lifetime achievement award in Singapore bestowed with the title of ‘Natya Aachaarya Mani’ by Apsaras Arts. That same year, she received the ‘Jeeyar Award of Excellence for her Pioneering Service to Indian Classical Dance in Western Australia’ from JET Australia Foundation. As a pioneer of Bharata Natyam, Jayalakshimi was also invited in 2019, by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society to present a workshop to mark the 70th year of Indian dance in Singapore.

Kalaivani School of Indian Classical Arts marked its 40th anniversary in Western Australia in 2023.

Lifetime Achievement Award
from Apsaras Arts, Singapore 2015

Distinguished guru, performer, vocalist,
choreographer and orchestra lead

Jayalakshimi had a passion for dance and music at an early age. Recognising her deep yearning for the arts, her parents brought her from Singapore to Chennai, India to study Bharata Natyam at Kalakshetra when she was just 14 years of age. Kalakshetra became her home. She graduated from Kalakshetra in 1967, after five years of intensive training in Pandanallur bani, now known as Kalakshetra style. While studying Bharata Natyam, she was trained in Carnatic music by the late Budalur Krishnamurthy Shastri who was also the principal of the Carnatic College in Chennai.

Worthy of note, during her time at Kalakshetra, Jayalakshimi was privileged and honoured to have been mentored by her guru, the Founder and Principal of Kalakshetra, the late Rukmini Devi Arundale, credited for the renaissance of the Bharata Natyam dance form. She has been named in India Today’s list of ‘100 People Who Shaped India.’

‘’ I am grateful to my loving parents for their support and for giving me this opportunity. My heart felt gratitude to all my gurus (teachers) for teaching me this beautiful art. To this day, late Rukmini Devi Atai, our principal, founder of Kalakshetra and pioneer for Bharata Natyam in India is my most admired and respected mentor. She lovingly called me Chettiponnu.‘’

– Smt Jayalakshimi Raman

Kalaivani
School of Indian Classical Arts

Over the years, Kalaivani has presented Perth audiences with annual performances including the Indian dance styles of Bharata Natyam, Odissi, folk dances and dance dramas including Andal Thiruppavai, Krishna Leela, Shiva Leela, Sapta Damaru, Nritya Ragam, Kuravanji, Natya Dhvani, Natya and Gita Govindam. Many of these dance dramas were choreographed by Jayalakshimi. Kalaivani has also produced a number of outstanding graduates who have completed their graduation ceremony, referred as arangetram (first full repertoire performance by a student after many years of studying the art), some of whom have established their own successful dance schools.

Passion for Community Service,
Arts and Culture

Jayalakshimi and Raman as ardent supporters of the Western Australian community have contributed in many ways to developing an understanding of Indian culture, education and arts. Their 40 years in Western Australia has had a monumental impact on our community which includes pioneering Indian classical dance and music in Western Australia, promoting and supporting multiculturalism as founding members of the North Perth Ethnic Music Centre (later known as KULCHA), participating in countless fundraising events including Perth Children’s Hospital and Channel 7’s Telethon, developing emerging artists in both dance and music, facilitating workshops to promote a greater understanding of Indian art and culture, and supporting a diverse range of organisations and regional towns. 

Kalaivani's beloved late Sri Raman Kuppusamy

Geethvani, Kalaivani’s traditional Carnatic orchestra was formed in 2021, and named in memory of Raman’s ensemble during his time at Loyola College, in Chennai. The orchestra composed of vocals, mridangam, violin, flute and veena became the first ensemble to accompany a dancer’s graduation ceremony (first solo debut of a dancer’s full repertoire). Geethvani is led by Jayalakshimi on vocals and cymbals (nattuvangam). Prior to this orchestra, musicians were sourced from interstate and overseas.

Our Services

We welcome your interest in Indian Classical Arts and culture in Western Australia.

Workshops

Lunch time Concerts

Multicultural Programmes

Community is Our Passion

Kalaivani is honoured to serve arts and culture

Kalaivani grew from strength to strength to promote Culture and Arts in Western Australia. Without Jayalakshmi’s help the Tamil community would have had a cultural vacuum. The school has performed at Shell Folkloric and Oz Concerts, and for Telethon to raise money for Perth’s Childrens hospital.

– Rasa Subramaniam
Founder of Tamil Association & Justice of the peace

Jayalakshimi had the courage to introduce Indian Classical dance and music to the WA community over 40 years ago, when the Multicultural Arts movement was in its infancy. As a pioneer artiste, she has taught, performed, collaborated, and promoted cultural exchange with passion and professionalism.

– Jean Westerhout
Former National Convenor – National Arts for a Multicultural Australia Network, FECCA
President – Multicultural Arts Centre WA (Ethnic Music Centre WA)

I have been a great admirer of Jayalakshmi, my colleague at Kalakshetra who has so much of talent combined with passion and dedication. No wonder she was able to take the art form to greater heights across the globe with her passion and dedicated service especially in Singapore and Western Australia.

– Jayalakshmi Eswar
Bharatanatyam Exponent & Founder of Abinayaa, Centre for Dance

Kalaivani Video Gallery

Interview with Jayalakshimi Raman 2023

Our Heritage

A glimpse into our previous events

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Kalaivani
School of Indian Classical Arts

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