Our story
A supportive home for the classical arts
Kalaarnavaa — Ocean of Performing Arts — is a classical dance and music academy in Bengaluru, founded and led by Smt. Pooja Raj, a Bharatanatyam artist and disciple of Guru Dr. Sanjay Shantaram.
Here, we don't just teach dance — we mentor every student personally. Every movement is refined, every doubt is cleared, and every dancer is guided towards their own voice in the classical arts.
From a child's very first adavu to an adult returning to a long-loved art, Kalaarnavaa is a space where students of every age learn with patience, discipline and joy.
Her journey
The story behind Kalaarnavaa
Every school begins with a story. Ours begins with a dancer who was asked to stop — and a son who refused to let her dream end there.
Once, a dancer
Pooja grew up in love with classical dance — the discipline, the expression, the joy of the stage. It was simply who she was.
Then, fifteen years of silence
After marriage, her art was quietly set aside. Her in-laws did not approve of a dancing daughter-in-law, and so the ghungroos fell silent — for fifteen long years.
A son who danced
Her son took to classical dance as a young boy. In a world that questioned a boy dancing, he not only persisted — he excelled, winning competition after competition, and later performing on stages abroad.
“Amma, now it's your turn”
One day he told her he would fight for her dream the way she never got the chance to. And he helped her tie the ghungroos on once again.
Kalaarnavaa is born
From that courage, Kalaarnavaa was founded — a home where no student is ever told they are too old, too late, or too anything, to dance.
Your guru
Meet Smt. Pooja Raj
Every class at Kalaarnavaa is taught personally by Smt. Pooja Raj — founder, performer, and the dancer whose journey this school was built on.
Smt. Pooja Raj
Founder & Artistic Director
Smt. Pooja Raj is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and a disciple of Guru Dr. Sanjay Shantaram — a renowned artiste and mentor. With years of performance and teaching experience, she guides every student at Kalaarnavaa personally, and is dedicated to spreading classical art to children of every background, including underprivileged students through seva-based programmes.
Honours & recognition
International Nritya Tarangini · 2025
International Cultural Festival, Bali 2025 — conferred by Chirantana Academy.
Best Dance Teacher · 2024
Chiguru Cultural & Charitable Trust.
Among other honours and titles.
How she teaches
Four pillars, in every class
Strong basics
Meaningful expressions
Respect for our rich tradition
A passion for continuous learning