PEDAGOGY ( TRAINING ) :

Students aged seven years and above are admitted, after due scrutiny of their Application Forms and after testing their aptitude. As a policy, preference in admission is given to deserving applicants belonging to lower economic strata; after sometime, and depending on their progress, classes are declared as FREE for those who, in the opinion of the institution deserve such help. The application form does not contain a column for religion, caste or community. But discipline is a must. The students are from many parts of India (and some times abroad, including a few holding scholarships from Govt. of India). They are also from various social segments of society. It is relevant to mention here that the students include daughters of postmen, masons, bus conductors, drivers, cart-men and even tribals. Director K. Subrahmanyam Memorial Trust gives scholarships and stipends to a few bright students who are trained as Teachers and Research Assistants. A few who have completed the Teachers' Training Course are now well settled in other institutions or in their own Centres, started in their respective places, affiliated to Nrithyodaya.

The pedagogy system is based on Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam's research findings. The courses are systematically based on syllabus, with annual examinations in Dance (Practicals and Theory), Music (Vocal/Instrumental), Sanskrit, Yoga, "Nama Sankirtan" and Vedic Heritage. Sanskrit is compulsory to enable the students to understand "Natya Sastra" and other works. Non-Tamilian students are advised to develop a working knowledge of Tamil to help them to grasp the meaning of the lyrics. Basic aspects of Indology are also taught to the students.