“The dancer who does not have some idea of sculpture, the dancer who does not have a sense of painting and of music cannot really be a great dancer because the same spirit that is embodied in dancing is embodied in painting and in the other arts.” – Rukmini Devi.

The intent of the institute has been to create a consummate performer, an adept dancer, with a thorough understanding of the theoretical, literary and musical basis of the traditional art. Therefore, language, music and theory are subjects that support the main subject of study.

The Kalakshetra dancer is renowned for his/her impeccable form. One of Rukmini Devi’s most far-sighted inputs to the dance was in the method of teaching the basic steps or adavus of Bharatanatyam. She classified the various adavus, and refined many of the movements, giving them a geometric precision and grace based on some principles of the Yajur Veda.