About us
Dayananda kalalayam
About Dayananda Kalalayam
Founded in 2015 by Vaishali with the blessings of her Gurus and inspired by the teachings of Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati, Dayananda Kalalayam is more than just a Bharatanatyam school—it is a cherished space for learning, performing, and connecting through the divine art form. Swami Dayananda’s guidance brought Vaishali back to her roots in Bharatanatyam, igniting her passion to not only teach but also create a deeper appreciation for this classical art in the community.
At Dayananda Kalalayam, we believe Bharatanatyam is a journey of discipline, dedication, and joy. Our mission is to nurture a love for the art while fostering a sense of commitment, creativity, and cultural pride. We believe that learning Bharatanatyam improves physical health, boosts mental well-being, enhances creativity, and fosters social connections, all while providing a fun and fulfilling way to express oneself. We offer classes for students of all ages (5 years and above) and abilities, providing personalized attention to help each student discover their potential.
Over the years, Dayananda Kalalayam has grown into a vibrant community of artists and art lovers. We have expanded beyond teaching to actively performing and organizing annual productions such as Natyodaya, Guru Samarpana, and Pravardhana, showcasing the depth and beauty of Bharatanatyam. These events not only celebrate the art form but also create platforms for students to shine and for the community to engage with this timeless tradition.
Our journey is one of constant evolution—balancing tradition with innovation, teaching with performing, and discipline with creativity. We invite you to join us on this path, where the rhythm of Bharatanatyam connects hearts and celebrates the divine.
Vaishali offers personal instruction at all levels, and also takes private classes for those interested.
Vaishali Ramachandran
Vaishali Ramachandran is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and nattuvangam artist with extensive experience in performance, teaching, choreography, and continued artistic training. She is the Founder, Artistic Director, and Principal Choreographer of Dayananda Kalalayam in Fremont, California, which she established in 2015 with a vision of nurturing the next generation of Bharatanatyam dancers through rigorous training, performance, and artistic exploration.
Vaishali began her Bharatanatyam training at the age of four in Mumbai under Guru Smt. Geetha Venkateshwar, Director of Bharatanatya Kalalaya. She later trained under acclaimed Guru Dr. Padmaja Suresh, Director of Aatmalaya, Bangalore, a disciple of Padmashri Guru K. Kalyanasundaram and an exponent of the Tanjavur tradition of Bharatanatyam. She continues to advance her training with Guru Dr. Padmaja Suresh and Guru Mythili Kumar and is pursuing nattuvangam under Vidwan Sri D. V. Prasanna Kumar. She is also currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam.
As a performer, Vaishali has appeared at prominent venues and festivals across India, including Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in the presence of President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Raj Bhavans in Bangalore and Jaipur, ICCR Yavanika, Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, Mysore Dasara Festival, and Surya Festival to name a few. Her independent solo and ensemble performances have taken her across the United States, India, Dubai, France, Switzerland, and Iceland, where she performed during the visit of then President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind in 2019.
Vaishali is a company dancer with Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose and Abhivyakthi Dance Company and has also collaborated with several Bay Area artists and dance organizations. Her work as a choreographer is rooted in the vocabulary, narrative traditions, rhythm, and abhinaya of Bharatanatyam, while increasingly exploring how stories from the Puranas, literature, and traditional repertoire can speak to contemporary human experiences.
Alongside performance and choreography, Vaishali has developed a strong practice in nattuvangam and has supported dancers and productions in India and the Bay Area since 2011. Through Dayananda Kalalayam, she teaches and mentors students, creates solo and ensemble works, organizes workshops and performance opportunities, and encourages young dancers to engage with Bharatanatyam not only as a classical discipline, but as a living and evolving artistic practice.
In recognition of her contributions to the arts, Vaishali was conferred the title Arsha Kala Ratna by Pujya Swami Dayananda Saraswati and Kala Sreshta by SIFA Bay Area. She remains committed to lifelong learning and to sharing the depth and beauty of Bharatanatyam through performance, choreography, teaching, and collaboration.
Vaishali is also a management degree holder and is currently settled in Fremont California, USA.
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