TEACHER

Ms. Cooley is a skilled and devoted teacher who manages to create a loving and encouraging environment in class while at the same time demanding the highest standards of excellence. Since 1992, she has taught Bharatanatyam to students in Nashville, TN at her institution, Kala Nivedanam. Current enrollment numbers approximately 85 students, with several traveling from other cities in Tennessee and from out-of-state to receive intensive training.

While instruction follows a traditional curriculum, Monica has evolved several non-traditional teaching techniques that help students to learn effectively. The Kala Nivedanam teaching philosophy is that discipline and hard work can still be fun. Monica is of the belief that all students can benefit from learning a classical art form, even if they never intend to become performers.

Those students who are truly serious about dance are encouraged to work towards the goal of an arangetram, or professional debut. At Kala Nivedanam, months of preparation go into each arangetram, with careful attention paid to every detail and with the emphasis always placed on the quality of the dance and music. To date, Monica has presented sixteen students in their Arangetram.

Believing it important for her students to be exposed to master teachers from India, Monica has arranged for her guru, Sri Narasimhachari, to teach summer workshops in Nashville. Additionally, in 1993 and 1994, she accompanied her guru in teaching intensive two-week workshops in several cities around the USA.