Academy Of Modern Dance

We have been running this place at No 74 in the Russian Cultural Centre for a good while now. It's situated on Kasthuri Rangan Road, which is right in the heart of Alwarpet. Most people know the area because the Chola Sheraton is just around the corner. We are tucked right behind it. When you walk in, it's nothing too fancy, just a clean floor and some mirrors. We started Academy Of Modern Dance because we wanted a spot where people could just show up and move. It gets quite warm in Chennai, so the fans are always spinning at full speed. You can hear the music from the street sometimes. It’s not a quiet place, but that’s how it should be. We don't have a big front desk or a receptionist in a suit. Usually, one of us just wipes our hands and comes over to talk to whoever walks in. The stairs are a bit narrow and the paint is peeling in a few spots. It doesn't really matter once the dancing starts. We have people from all over Alwarpet and Mylapore coming in. Some are kids who are just energetic and others are older folks trying to stay flexible. We don't do those big speeches about finding your soul through dance. We just show you where to put your feet. It's practical work and we enjoy being here in this old building. It feels like a real part of the neighborhood.