About Midhilalaya Dance Academy

Our Story

From Madras to Midhilalaya Dance Academy

Midhilalaya Dance Academy

Our Story

From Madras to Midhilalaya Dance Academy

Guru Smt. V. Mydhili, following two decades of immersive teaching and learning in the culturally vibrant city of Madras (now Chennai), founded Midhilalaya Dance Academy in 1984. What began as a quiet journey of dedication to the classical arts evolved into a sanctuary for Bharata Natyam, Mohini Attam and Kuchipudi—rooted in tradition, enriched by scholarship, and refined by artistic sensibility?

From its humble beginnings, Midhilalaya has grown into a temple of learning, where the classical idioms of dance preserved with fidelity and passed on with precision. Here, discipline is not merely about rigor, but about a reverent approach to the art—a surrender to the deeper purpose of dance as sadhana.

With more than 3,000 students trained over the years, the academy has become a beacon for serious aspirants across India and beyond. Each year, students from the Middle East, the United States and other parts of the world return to Midhilalaya during their holidays—not only to refine their technique but also to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that nurtures soulful expression, cultural depth and inner growth.

What sets Midhilalaya apart is not merely the transmission of choreography but the cultivation of an inner resonance with the art form. Under Guru Mydhili’s exacting yet compassionate guidance, students are trained to understand the nuances of rhythm (laya), the language of gesture (mudra) and the essence of abhinaya—making each performance not just an aesthetic experience, but a spiritual offering.

Today, Midhilalaya Dance Academy stands as a testament to Guru Mydhili’s vision—a space where tradition breathes, creativity flows and every student shaped not only into a performer, but also into a torchbearer of a timeless legacy.

"She is a real epitome of the word Guru. I see her as a mother. At any moment, whenever I needed advise I run to her. One of the greatest blessings I have received in this life."

- Dr. Kalpan Gopan