Asha Sharath- is a name that resonates with the saga of Indian Classical dance. Dance is a heritage bequeathed to Asha by none other than her legendary mother, Smt. Kalamandalam Sumathy. She is now an outstanding dancer among the Contemporary young Indian Classical Dancers with many accolades to her credit.

Asha Sharath was born as the daughter of Krishnan Kutty, a retired employee of Travancore Rayons and Kalamandalam Sumathi, managing director of Natyalaya School of Classical Dance. A renowned dancer, Kalamandalam Sumathi has won several awards and accolades including Sangeetha Nataka Academy Fellowship, Award from Kerala Kalamandalam and National Award from Akshaya. It was her mother who initiated Asha to the world of Indian classical dance. Asha started learning dance at the tender age of three. Her father and two brothers Balagopal and Venugopal were her biggest inspiration to become a dancer.

Asha’s first gurus in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattom were her mother and uncle Ravikumar. She learned Kuchipudi from Guru Vinayachandran Master and Anitha Janaki Teacher. Asha has also learned Kathakali and her gurus are the late Darpana Govindan Namboothiri, Kalanilayam Madhu and RLV Radhakrishnan.

Asha has won many awards for her exceptional achievements as a dancer. They include Swathi Thirunal Award, Akshaya Desiya Award, Kaladarpana Award and Mayilpeeli Award by Guruvayur Devaswom. In 1992, she was selected as the Best Dancer of the Year at All India University Level. Besides, she has received Gold Medal for Artistic Excellence from Maharaja of Banaras, Kalaratna Swathi Thirunal Award 2006, Kalathilakam title and Akshaya Desiya Puraskaram.

Despite her thriving acting career, Asha is a busy dancer even today and she performs on at least four stages in a month.

Asha came to Dubai in 1995, following her marriage with T V Sharath, currently the managing director of Consilium Group of Companies. The same year she joined Radio Asia FM, where she worked as an RJ and programme producer for around eight years.

Kairali Kalakendram

Asha launched her dream venture, Kairali Kalakendram, in the year 2003. It was her mother Kalamandalam Sumathy, who gave her strength and inspiration to launch such an initiative in the UAE. Kairali Kalakendram is an institute dedicated to Indian Art, Music and Dance. Starting with four students, the institution today has branches in Ghusais, Discovery Gardens, Karama and Sharjah. Training is offered to students in Indian classical dance forms such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi; other dance forms including Bollywood dance, hip hop and Indian folk dance; Carnatic music and light music; musical instruments including piano, keyboard, violin, flute, veena, drums, table and mridangam; oil painting, free hand drawing and clay modelling.

Kairali Kalakendram’s vision – to be the very best institute to impart Indian art and music to our students.

Kairali Kalakendram’s mission - is to inculcate our students the values and traditions of our Indian culture and instil them the sense of pride and confidence as part of their personality development.

The institute had a humble birth in the minds of Smt. Asha Sharath who inherited a rich legacy of Indian classical dance from her legendary mother Smt. Kalamandalam Sumathy, who gave her strength and inspiration to launch such an initiative in UAE .The journey, post conception of the idea to open a school of dance, initially with just 4 students, gradually became more challenging with the steady rise in the number of students which necessitated a definite housing with a distinct identity for the cause of promoting the various art forms. It is the firm decision of Smt. Asha Sharath to bequeath the legacy of her invaluable knowledge in dance to posterity that has contributed to the setting up of an Institute of this kind for teaching various forms of Indian classical dance such as Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi; other dance forms including Bollywood dance, hip hop and Indian folk dance; Carnatic music and light music; musical instruments including piano, keyboard,violin, flute, veena, drums, tabla and mridangam; oil painting, free hand drawing and clay modelling.

The Institute has been christened as kairali kalakendram and sprang into existence in January 2003 at Al Ghusais, Dubai.Affiliated to Natyalaya, which was established in Kerala 50 years ago by Smt. Kalamandalam sumathi, the mother and mentor of Smt. Asha Sharath, the kairali Kalakendram has, right from its inception in 2003, flourished as a unique centre of excellence imparting classes in various disciplines of art and culture to students talented with the right aptitude and positive attitude with the aid of brilliant faculty. The shoot out of branches at Sharjah in 2006, Discovery Gardens in 2010 and karama in 2012 and an overwhelming strength of more than 3000 students and a staff strength of 100 sing aloud the glorious achievements of kairali Kalakendram

Kairali Kalakendram Group, comprising centres in Ghusais, Discovery Gardens, Karama and Sharjah, is affiliated to Natyalaya, a renowned dance institute based in Kerala. This institute, established 52 years ago by Kalamandalam Sumathy, the mother and guru of Asha Sharath, is recognized by the Government of India. In addition to the branches in India, the institute also has its branches in Brazil, UK and the USA.