Kalakshetra literally means a holy place of arts (Kala : Arts, Kshetra : Field or Holy place). 

    Deriving inspiration from this noble ideal, Kalakshetra was established, in the words of Rukmini Devi,

"with the sole purpose of resuscitating in modern India recognition of the priceless artistic traditions of the country and of imparting to the young the true spirit of Art, devoid of vulgarity and commercialism." The training of young and talented people by masters of art, with the background of a religious spirit, has been its main aim. A vital centre of training and performance, the institution has produced and molded generations of acclaimed artists in a distinctive style. Since its establishment in the early 20th century, Kalakshetra has had

Kalakshetra literally means a holy place of arts (Kala : Arts, Kshetra : Field or Holy place). 

    Deriving inspiration from this noble ideal, Kalakshetra was established, in the words of Rukmini Devi,

"with the sole purpose of resuscitating in modern India recognition of the priceless artistic traditions of the country and of imparting to the young the true spirit of Art, devoid of vulgarity and commercialism." The training of young and talented people by masters of art, with the background of a religious spirit, has been its main aim. A vital centre of training and performance, the institution has produced and molded generations of acclaimed artists in a distinctive style. Since its establishment in the early 20th century, Kalakshetra has had stalwart musicians and dancers on its faculty. It provides a holistic education in arts amidst a serene and inspiring natural environment cultivating a spirit of reverence. The faculty comprises of many experts who have studied here and cherish the ideals of this institution. Some of India's most revered artistes are among its alumni.

Kalakshetra focuses on bharatanatyam, carnatic vocal and instrumental music, the visual arts, traditional crafts and textile design, textual heritage, aesthetics, history and philosophy. The director, Leela Samson, a student of Rukmini 

Devi, continues to be a performer and teacher of this tradition. She and her staff consider themselves as links in a living chain, and commit themselves to preserving and sharing the purity and beauty of the arts in every possible form. 

Kalakshetra Foundation comprises of Kalakshetra, The Besant Theosophical High School, The Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School, A CraftEducation and Research Centre including the Weaving Department, the Kalamkari Natural-Dye Printing & Painting unit, the Visual Arts Center, The Bharata Kalakshetra

Facilities:

Kalakshetra is a haven within the city of Chennai and spread over a hundred acres of natural beauty beside the sea. Set amongst the trees, guest and student accommodations are airy and close to nature yet equipped with modern facilities. Students are encouraged to stay on campus throughout their study and live the peaceful, holistic way of life necessary to practice the traditional arts to their full expression. Guests are welcome to visit the college.

Sankara Menon Library:

The Sankara Menon Library, located next to the banyan tree, the hub of the college, is for students, researchers and staff. The library contains over 10,000 books covering subjects such as dance, music, painting, literatur

Facilities:

Kalakshetra is a haven within the city of Chennai and spread over a hundred acres of natural beauty beside the sea. Set amongst the trees, guest and student accommodations are airy and close to nature yet equipped with modern facilities. Students are encouraged to stay on campus throughout their study and live the peaceful, holistic way of life necessary to practice the traditional arts to their full expression. Guests are welcome to visit the college.

Sankara Menon Library:

The Sankara Menon Library, located next to the banyan tree, the hub of the college, is for students, researchers and staff. The library contains over 10,000 books covering subjects such as dance, music, painting, literature, and religion. It contains fiction in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and English, and some Sanskrit texts. The library also contains dictionaries in several languages, encyclopedias, reference volumes on Sanskrit literature and Hindu mythology, music books and bound volumes of Sruti and the Kalakshetra Quarterly magazines. There is a qualified librarian and library assistant to manage the collection.

Books in the library have been collected over the years, supplemented by donations from R. Venkatraman, former President of India, Anandi Ramachandran, Alamelu Govindarajan, Kalpakam Swaminathan, Sethuraman Iyer, Sarada Hoffman, S. Rajaram, Leela Samson, Monisha Mukundan and others associated with the institute.

"Kalakshetra is not learning just dance and music," says a Kalakshetra student. "Kalakshetra is exploring a whole new way of life." The clear lines of the dance form they are studying, and the pure notes of the music that resound through the campus permeates every aspect of life here. Simplicity, discipline that comes from within, a sense of reverence for all living beings underlie the day's activities, even the most mundane.

Students rise at dawn and are bathed and dressed in their dance saris and dhotis, their kurta pyjamas and pavada davanis, in time for breakfast at 7.30a.m. Meals are served in a large hall, open to the sea breeze. A short prayer of thanksgiving precedes the first meal of the day. Everyone sits on the floor to eat a hearty breakfast in the south Indian

"Kalakshetra is not learning just dance and music," says a Kalakshetra student. "Kalakshetra is exploring a whole new way of life." The clear lines of the dance form they are studying, and the pure notes of the music that resound through the campus permeates every aspect of life here. Simplicity, discipline that comes from within, a sense of reverence for all living beings underlie the day's activities, even the most mundane.

Students rise at dawn and are bathed and dressed in their dance saris and dhotis, their kurta pyjamas and pavada davanis, in time for breakfast at 7.30a.m. Meals are served in a large hall, open to the sea breeze. A short prayer of thanksgiving precedes the first meal of the day. Everyone sits on the floor to eat a hearty breakfast in the south Indian style. Within forty-five minutes, young men and women, boys and girls are walking along the wooded path that leads to their college and school areas, where prayers and music under the trees will prepare them for the day ahead. Young people from every part of India, and from many countries across the world live in hostel buildings amidst trees, spread over an area of five acres beside the sea. Students are housed in dormitories with large airy rooms and modern toilet facilities, some with views of the sea. Three college students share a room with an attached bathroom. Each dormitory is supervised by a resident house mother. Young children attending Kalakshetra Foundation schools may join the hostel from the age of seven onwards.

When classes are over for the day, students practice dance and music, read, study, and attend concerts. Once a week everyone gathers for the singing of devotional songs called bhajans. In their free time, students are free to roam the expansive grounds, to read under the trees or to practice music and dance. The sound of music and of the rhythm of dance is to be heard almost all through the day. Outdoor games are encouraged, and equipment is provided. All except the youngest children wash their own clothes and clean their own rooms.