Chidambaram Dance Academy

We’re over in Erandwane, at the 72/15 address. It’s a busy little spot, and there’s always something happening on the street outside. Chidambaram Dance Academy has been here for a while, and the wooden floors have definitely seen a lot of use over the years. You can usually hear the music or the sound of feet hitting the ground if you’re standing near the entrance in the evening. We didn't want a place that felt too stiff or formal, so the studio is pretty basic inside. We have some large mirrors and a place for people to leave their shoes by the door. In the afternoons, the sun pours in through the side windows, which makes it quite warm, so we keep the fans going at full speed. The neighborhood is full of students and families, so we see a lot of the same faces every day. Sometimes the rains make the street out front a bit muddy, but people still find their way to us. It’s not a huge academy, just a few rooms where we can practice and teach our classes. We spend a lot of time just cleaning up the dust or sweeping the floors after a long day of work. It’s a lot of physical labor to keep a dance space running, but we like being in this part of Pune. It feels like a real community here. We just show up, do the lessons, and lock up the gate late in the evening. It is a good way to spend the day.