KSA - Kalashri School of Arts

Guru Bina Menon, a student of dance perfectionist "kalamandalam Natanam" Gopalakrishnan, had performed all over India and abroad at a very young age .she started choreographing dances by the age of 16. she traveled nationally and internationally with Bollywood's "dream girl" Hema Malini in her teens. National award winner "urvashi" shobana a prominent classical dancer and actress of south India has been part of Bina Menon's show and Kalashri School of Arts for several years. Meenakshi Sheshadri of Bollywood fame who is also a classical dance exponent has had her shows with Bina Menon and students of Kalashri School of Arts. Ms Menon, who had represented the state of Tamil Nadu in sports, gave up the idea of being an athlete to spend more time towards dancing and painting. She has given a creative and spiritual thought in the minds of 100s of youngsters in NY and NJ area.by engaging them in dancing she brings out discipline, concentration, positive attitude, unity and constructive diversion in their minds and lives. She has had the pleasure in providing the community with rich Indian culture and traditions .the students that join the school at the age of 5 and bloom into teenagers right in front of her eyes and gracefully grow into young adults, will in future fill the auditoriums of America, as well informed and proud adults and parents with minds and hearts filled with Indian culture and traditions. She has choreographed a 2 hour off Broadway dance ballets on Ramayanam with 40 classical dancers, her other themes include Krishna Leela, the 5 elements, save the rain forests, several dance dramas, classical fusion with Irish, swing and Hip Hop dancers. she has showcased her shows at the several Universities like the Princeton University, Columbia University etc... Several Charity events for the American Indian Foundation NY, Karuna Charities etc.. She has had the opportunity to perform with her students this beautiful art of dancing for former American president Bill Clinton and New York senator Hillary. R. Clinton. And received appreciation from them .she was also given opportunities to choreograph for Asia's biggest award the "Bollywood awards", Kerala's "gana gandarvan" Dr.K.J.Yesudas, Bollywood's Kumar Sanu, Udith Nararayan . In 2006 the Jon corzine ,NJ gov's inaugural had the student of Kalashri School of Arts perform the opening act. Kalashri students were the very first Indian dancers to perform at the Izod center for National Basketball Association ,Nets vs Miami Heat game.Kalshri's senior students have were selected after an audition to perform for the Oscar Awards in 2009 during AR Rahman's award winning performance for the Slum dog Millionaire. Senate president and former acting Gov of NJ Richard Codey who inaugurated her school's 11th Annual celebration, along with several other dignitaries have expressed her contribution and service to the community has helped the children and teens in understanding their background and stay occupied in a constructive and disciplined matter. New jersey's prestigious NJpac's very first Indian show was Kalashri School's "Tarolsavam" in 2000 the biggest ever star studded Malayalam tour show, in the USA with Bharat Mohanlal ,Jairam, shobana and several other stars under the direction of the most successful director Priyadarshan, the show was also presented at the Nassau coliseum arena in NY and at the Temple University arena in PA . Guru Bina started the BT Menon Memorial dance Awards in 2005 in memory of her late husband Mr Balakrishan T Menon. Bina Menon has done Arangetram for several of her students in Bharatanatyam , Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi, wishes to continue teaching, choreographing and do dance shows and make this Art a part of all her students' lives in the years to come.