Shobana opens dance school Kalarpana

National Award winning actress Shobana, who is also an exponent of the Bharathanatyam, launched her school 'Kalarpana', a cultural centre for classical dance, at a function organised at Savera Hotel, Chennai, on Wednesday.

Talking on the occasion, Shobana (niece of the Travancore sisters Lalitha, Padmini and Ragini, all renowned for their skill in classical Indian dance) said, "The school is conceived, created, and developed as an all-encompassing forum of learning, experimenting, teaching and spreading Bharathanatyam. It is meant to support a conductive cultural environment and will be the first of its kind in Chennai."

Kalarpana will organize annual festivals throughout India, including performances of nationally- and globally-known artistes to help raise funds that will be ploughed back into training talented artistes who are financially weak. It will extend its support to the handicapped and the environmental movement too.

She revealed that she has already invested Rs. 2.5 crores into her dream project without any support from either the government or corporates. Students have already enrolled for the courses. Actors Suhasini, Vineeth and Revathy also spoke on the occasion.