Guru & Academy

Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam · Kalaivani Dance Academy

Honoring the teacher and dance community that have guided Ahana's Bharatanatyam training.

Academy

Kalaivani Dance Academy

Kalaivani Dance Academy was founded by Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam in 2004 with a vision to engage students in the fine art, technique, and love of Bharatanatyam, one of India’s most ancient and graceful classical art forms.

The academy emphasizes excellence through training rooted in time-tested traditions of performance and practice. Its students receive opportunities through group and private lessons, choreography, productions, and performances.

Kalaivani has played an important role in preserving Indian legends, traditions, and mythology while encouraging collaboration across dance genres and communities.

Guru, Founder, and Director

Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam

Practice to perfect not please.

Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam is a visionary choreographer, devoted teacher, director, and nattuvanar whose work brings Bharatanatyam to life through productions such as Samarpayami, Navavidha Bhakthi, Krishna Smaranam, Omkaram, Drishti, and Fusion 2 the Future.

Her choreography is known for balancing tradition and innovation, with close attention to nuance, detail, and expressive depth. She expects precision in mudras, adavus, bhedas, and karanas while building endurance, devotion, and confidence in her students.

Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam has guided more than seventy disciples through their Arangetrams. She has played a pivotal role in Ahana’s progress as a dancer, shaping her technique, expression, stamina, and love for the art form.

Producer, Nattuvangam, Teacher, and Co-Director

Siddarth Kelam

Always dance with your heart first, and then let your body follow.

Siddarth Kelam comes from a lifelong background in dance and music. He began Bharatanatyam training with his father, Sudershan Kelam, and continued under his mother, Guru Smt. Padmaja Kelam.

He has also trained in Carnatic vocals with Guru Savitha Namuduri and Guru Srinath Kalavichirathil, and in mridangam with Guru Subramaniam Vishwanathan, Guru Bharadan, and Guru Santosh Chandru. His work includes choreography, nattuvangam, performance, music production, and audio engineering.

Siddarth later pursued audio engineering at SAE Atlanta, graduating as salutatorian, and has worked across studio production, cinematography, lighting, and AV through SKV Productions. He has taught Ahana occasionally, bringing musicality, rhythm, and performance perspective to her training.