Kalaiyin Kovil Naatitya Sudhaa

We are tucked away in Gulmohar Park at D 87. It’s a quiet residential area, which is nice because it keeps the distractions down. The space isn’t very large, just a converted section of the house where we do the teaching. We have some traditional pictures on the walls and a small area where students can leave their shoes. Sometimes the neighbor’s dog barks during the lessons, but we just ignore it and keep the rhythm. I’ve lived in this part of Gulmohar Park for a long time, so I know most of the families around here. The students usually come in groups in the late afternoon. We don’t have a big waiting room, so parents often just sit on the steps outside or go for a walk while their kids are inside. The floor is kept very clean because we are barefoot most of the time. I spend a lot of time showing the same hand gestures over and over until the younger ones get it right. It takes a lot of patience. Sometimes we have tea during the breaks and talk about the upcoming festivals. It’s a simple way of living. No big marketing or fancy lights, just the sound of the wooden blocks hitting the floor. We focus on the steps and the music. The house feels very alive when the classes are going on, then it gets very quiet at night. It is just our little home studio.