A. Elementary Courses

a) Foundation – 2 Years

b) Certificate – 3 Years

B. Vocational Courses

a) Diploma – 2 Years

b) Post Diploma – 2 Years

The above nine-year programme of study comprising Elementary and Vocational Courses is designed to develop suitable skills, knowledge and confidence in the young students to pursue a successful career in the field of performing arts.

C. Full-time Professional Training Programme

A programme of full-time Professional Training is being introduced where senior eminent Gurus will impart training to specially selected students who are willing to commit themselves fully to their chosen field of Dance/Music. The object of the programme is to groom dancers and musicians of high standard who may excel in the field as performers or teachers. Beginning this year, the programme will be started under the following two masters:

1. Guru Jai Kishan Maharaj — Kathak Dance
2. Guru Biswajit Roy Choudhary — Classical Instrumental Music (Sarod)

Selected students will be required to attend classes in the main subject and allied subjects, from morning to evening, six days a week. Admission process will be announced with complete details in July-August 2024.

Disciplines & Subjects

(a) Kathak, (b) Bharatanatyam, (c) Odissi, (d) Chhau (Mayurbhanj)

Introduction

 India’s cultural heritage is illuminated by its classical dances, which embody the nation’s history, traditions, and spirituality. Notable among these are Kathak, Odissi, Bharatanatyam, and Mayurbhanj Chhau, each celebrated for their unique styles. The Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) has played an important role in retaining the originality of these dances, supporting them as National treasures.

The Kendra played a pivotal role in the revival of Kathak, a classical dance from Uttar Pradesh. The Founder Smt. Sumitra Charat Ram was deeply influenced by the Kalka Bindadin family, and soon the institute became a hub for learning and promoting Kathak. It hosted classes by luminaries such as Shambhu Maharaj and facilitated a neutral platform that encouraged unity among different gharanas. The institution’s efforts in education and performances under masters like Pt. Birju Maharaj, Pt. Sunder Prasad, Pt. Durga Lal, Pt. Munna Shukla and Kumudini Lakhia led to the establishment of the National Institute – Kathak Kendra, furthering Kathak’s reach and preservation. Today, with leading teachers like Guru Jaikishan Maharaj, SBKK continues to nurture new talent and sustain Kathak’s legacy

In the 1960s, Odissi was less known until Gurus like Pankaj Charan Das and Kelucharan Mahapatra brought it to prominence. SBKK contributed significantly by providing extensive training under Mayadhar Raut, enabling dancers such as Aloka Panikar and Ranjana Gauhar to elevate Odissi to a classical status.

Bharatanatyam, already popular in South India, was brought to North India and supported by the Kendra with the arrival of Leela Samson in the 1970s. Her influence, along with Gurus like Justin McCarthy, established SBKK as a centre for Bharatanatyam in North India.

Additionally, SBKK embraced Mayurbhanj Chhau, , under Shobha Deepak Singh’s leadership. This included performances that showcased its dynamic storytelling and movements, with Guru Krishna Chandra Naik leading its introduction at the Kendra.

The Kendra has over 45 faculty members, including Gurus, Teachers and Accompanists, enriching its educational offerings.

Introduction

 Following India’s independence on August 15, 1947, the cultural event at Shriram House in Delhi, hosted by Smt.Sumitra Charat Ram, brought together renowned musicians such as Baba Allaudin Khan, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Pt.Panna Lal Gosh and Pandit Ravi Shankar, among others. This gathering wasn’t just a celebration of freedom but also a significant moment for the revival of Hindustani classical music, marking a renewed interest in traditional gatherings and performances that had waned during the partition.

The Kendra started offering courses in Hindustani Vocal and Instrumental Music, attracting students to learn under the guidance of celebrated artists such as the Sr. Dagar brothers, Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan, Hashmat Ali Khan, Munnawar Ali Khan, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Amarnath, and Shanti Sharma amongst others. Influenced by her time in Banaras, the founder integrated Semi-Classical Music into the curriculum, inspired by the Annual Gulab Bari Festival. This event in Varanasi featured performances by notable singers like Siddheshwari Devi who performed renditions in Dadra, Bhajan, Chaiti, Kajri, and Tappa. Gulab Bari celebrates Semi-Classical traditions with rose showers through overnight boating on the River Ganges during the Hindu New Year. Siddeshwari Devi was later invited to teach at Kendra, further enriching its music offerings.

These efforts were not just about preserving the musical genres but were aimed at connecting younger generations with a significant aspect of India’s cultural heritage.

Over the years the institution has become a platform for nurturing talent and celebrating the richness of Indian classical music. By integrating traditional teachings with contemporary sensibilities, the Kendra ensures that Hindustani Classical music remains relevant and accessible to new audiences. This blend of preservation and innovation has helped maintain the vibrancy of India’s musical traditions in the modern era.

The revival and continued promotion of Hindustani classical music through the efforts of individuals like Smt.Sumitra Charat Ram and institutions like the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra highlight the enduring significance of these traditions in India’s cultural narrative. Through education, performances, and festivals, the Kendra has contributed to the ongoing appreciation and evolution of classical music in India.

The Kendra has over 45 faculty members, including Gurus, Teachers and Accompanists, enriching its educational offerings.

1. The admission process for Elementary and Vocational Courses normally begins in mid-May every year. The actual date is notified from year to year through our website and advertisements in the media.
2. The printed Application Form is available on payment of Rs. 300/- from the office of the Kendra, 1, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi-110001. The Form is also available online at the Kendra’s Website (www.sbkk.in) and may be submitted online with the application fee of Rs 300/-, payable through the payment gateway.

If the Form is downloaded from the website and filled up manually, then a fee of Rs. 300/- is payable  at the time of its submission at the Kendra Office.

3. The selection of candidates for admission to any course is made through an audition held at the Kendra. Pre-recorded music is not permitted for the audition.
4. The desirable minimum age for admission to the Foundation Course is 8 years. The upper age limit for higher courses will be 35 years for Dance and 40 years for Music, relaxable in case of deserving and meritorious candidates having past training.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

International students are admitted in the Kendra mainly under the scholarship of the Indian Council for Cultural Realtions (ICCR), a body of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India (ww.iccr.gov.in)

Those seeking Direct Admission on Self-Finance Basis may apply directly to the Kendra (refer to our website www.sbkk.in).

1. All fees are payable in advance at the Accounts Office of the Kendra by cash or Demand Draft in favour of “Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra”. Fees and dues will be accepted in the Accounts Office of the Institute between 10.00 am to 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 7.00 pm on working days only. Alternatively, fees can be paid through NEFT or through RAZORPAY, GOOGLE PAY, etc. A link for these can be obtained through our Admin. / Accounts Departments, or on Kendra’s official website, www.sbkk.in.
2. In case of new admissions, fees and deposits including Admission Fee, Annual Charges, Security Deposit and Tuition Fee for the first three months will be payable at the time of admission. To secure their seats in the respective courses, candidates are advised to pay the due amount soon after the list of selected applicants is announced and before the last day of payment as notified from year to year.
3. Existing students who continue their training mid-course are required to pay their dues, including annual charges and tuition fee for the first three months latest by 21st July.
4. All students shall pay tuition fee preferably quarterly for the remaining three quarters of the academic year before the 15th of the first month of the quarter, i.e., by 15th October, 15th January and 15th April. A late fine of Rs 100/- will be charged if payment is delayed up to the end of the month. Thereafter, the fine for delayed payment will be Rs 500/- up to the end of the next month. Thereafter, the student’s name will be struck off the rolls and his / her security deposit will be forfeited. If such a student wishes to continue, he / she will have to seek readmission with a fine of Rs 1,000/-.
5. If a student joins a second subject, the tuition fee of the second subject will be charged.
6. If a new student is admitted in the middle of the term, fees will be charged on pro rata basis.
7. In case of loss of or damage to a student’s I-Card, a fee of Rs.200/- will be charged for issuing a duplicate card.
8. Fees once paid are not refundable.
9. If a student leaves before completion of the course without sufficient reason, the security deposit will not be refunded.
10. Refundable security deposits will be held by the Kendra for a period of one year.
11. The management will have the discretion to relax any of the above rules in a deserving case.

RE-ADMISSION

A student, whose name has been struck off the rolls, will be readmitted only at the discretion of the Management.

1. Annual Founder’s Day Programme – Performance by students of all departments.
2. Senior students are permitted to participate in their Guru’s private performances.
3. Festival of Music & Dance by outstanding students and ex-students of the Kendra.
4. Opportunities to learn and experience associated crafts and skills – ornament and costume-making, stage work and backstage support, light and sound designing, compering, programme presentation, auditorium management, designing of brochure, and programme literature etc.
5. Participation in sponsored shows outside.
6. Many students who have passed out of our college have had success in their careers. They have opened their institutes in India and overseas, become famous performing artists or have become Dance/Music teachers in prominent schools all over India.
7. The Kendra organises a range of annual events and programmes throughout the year. These include Shri Krishna, Shri Ram, Shriram Shankarlal Music Festival, and Kendra Dance Festival. Regular monthly or quarterly programmes, such as the Jhankar series by eminent guest artists and the Ankur series of students’ performances are also held. The Kendra expects the students to participate actively in all functions. The ornaments and costumes are all made at the Kendra, and students are encouraged to participate in their making and learn in the process.
8. The eligibility for extension of the hostel facilities depends, among other things, on the students’ participation/attendance in the above-mentioned activities.

1. All students are required to attend classes regularly in the main discipline. They must attend at least 75% of the classes for being allowed in the Bi-Annual and Annual examinations.
   a) In the event that physical classes cannot be held due to Governmental restrictions on any account whatsoever then classes will be held online and all students are required to regularly attend such classes from their homes and meet the minimum attendance criteria.
2. Students need to apply for leave in advance and get it sanctioned from their respective Teachers and Principal. In case of illness, applications must be supported by a medical certificate from a Registered Medical Practitioner.
3. All students are expected to use the library regularly and extensively. The annual examination may include extra marks for the use of the library.
4. The students are required to be dressed appropriately in classrooms. Non-adherence to the dress code will render the student ineligible for the class.
5. Mobile phones should be switched off during classes, failing which they are liable to be confiscated for 24 hours. All Gurus will ensure adherence to this rule.
6. Other than the fees, students are prohibited from paying any amount towards collection of money in class. Any such request / demand by any student or faculty member should be brought to the notice of the Principal immediately.
7. Continuity of a student in any course depends on the prescribed marks scored in bi-annual / annual examinations. The decision of the Institution in this regard will be final.
8. Students must handle the musical instruments in their class with care and respect. They will not take the instruments out of the classroom, unless specifically permitted.
9. Students are expected to observe strict discipline in the class.
10. Eatables/drinks are strictly prohibited in the classrooms.
11. Parents and visitors are strictly prohibited from entering the teaching area.
12. Any student found indulging in any undesirable conduct may face disciplinary action and may be suspended or expelled at the discretion of the Management.
13. Students are expected to actively participate in the activities of the Kendra, and attend performances / concerts / lecture-demonstrations as and when required.
14. Each student will be provided with an identity card. Students should carry this card while coming for the class. The card will be valid for the academic year only. (Students will submit a recent passport size photo and fill-in the blood group for issue of I-Card)