Mandavelli Magic - KJ Sarasa

There is absolutely no sign of a dance class at the end of Rani Anadurai Street in Mandavelli. In fact there is no signboard. Nothing. It looks like a nondescript private home of a Chennai resident. It is only when you start inching towards the gate of the bungalow - that you start hearing the beat of the wooden stick against the wooden plank as the teacher calls out the dance notation. As you walk down the driveway - you see glimpses of dancers thru the narrow door. And finally when you walk through the doorway you see a class full of intense dancers executing complex footwork under the watchful eye of KJ Sarasa. There is the major difference between Chennai and other parts of the world. The marketing machinery has yet to pervade the homes of the Old Masters where some of the greatest artists live and teach.

KJ Sarasa is almost 80 years old but she teaches Dasi Dance with the passion and joy of a young teacher who had just graduated. KJ Sarasa's students have won a string of rewards and are some of the most prolific artists in the world today. Among her students are the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Cinema actress Jayalalitha as well as Shobana. Today her students continue to dominate and sweep the awards in the Chennai dance category. KJ Sarasa is known to foster the great female solo dancer. Unlike Kalashetra which churns out chorus dancers who do ok in dance dramas but cannot hold their own as soloist, KJ Sarasa is known to tailor her choreorgraphy to bring out the vey best in her dancers. I discovered her after shopping around for gurus and have been inspired by her teachings and my numerous conversations with her.