What you see - A board of tiles welcomes you at Studio Krshala, the performing arts school on the top floor of Simran Godhwani’s home in Koramangala, Bangalore. The dance school is located close to Bon South restaurant on 80 Feet Road. Take a left turn into a narrow lane from there and it’s the fifth blue and white house on your left. The dance studio is simple yet cheerful with wooden flooring and floor to ceiling mirrors.

What you get - Petite and soft spoken Simran is a Bharatnatyam and Kathak dancer and established Studio Krshala in September 2008. She has choreographed dance pieces and worked with toddlers and younger children in schools like Neev and Vidya Niketan besides teaching dance regularly at Headstart School. Although many of the dance programs she offers are open to children as young as three and half years, Simran believes parents should give children the freedom and opportunity to choose which dance style they like instead of forcing their hand. The repertoire on offer at her dance school includes freestyle creative dance, where kids from three year onwards can learn a combination of movements that include modern dance, basic body coordination, Bollywood, kalaripayattu, yoga, etc, contemporary dance and Bollywood style dancing.

She also holds Kathak classes with her guru and dance school co-founder Pandit Murari Sharma. Simran’s latest introduction is Eurhythmics, which she first came across in Dubai. Eurhythmics is a style of musical education in which movements of the body are meant to represent different notes and rhythms. Simran calls it a combination of vocal exercise, music and movement, along with the awareness of instruments and sounds. “For example, we try different movements with different musical notes, through various patterns like hop, skip, gallop etc.,” she says. The exercise helps children to visualize the notes and get their placement right. Simran adds that “the advantage of Eurhythmics is that it teaches children a lot about different types of instruments and helps to really bring music and rhythm into their lives.”

The Krshala Studio also conducts classes in Hindustani vocal music by Mythili. Another interesting option offered here is Dance Yoga, which combines the different movements of dance with yogic practices like asanas, pranayama, kriyas etc.

Fees are approximately Rs. 1,000 per course. Different classes are run on different days so there are no specific timings for the studio. Best to call and visit.

Our verdict - With several years of training in Bharatnatyam, Simran along with Guru Murari Sharma is a knowledgeable person to learn dance and movement from. MetroMela liked the fact that she believes in giving children the space and scope to find their sense of rhythm and also what they like to do the best.

Parking space is available in the adjoining lanes.