Ms. Saroja Vaidyanathan, a renowned classical Bharata Natyam dancer, established Ganesa Natyalaya in 1974. Beginning with a handful of students, the Natyalaya soon grew rapidly in strength and eminence and is reckoned as a premier institution in India. It is due to Guru Saroja's able tutelage that the students of the Natyalaya receive sound grounding in the theory and practice of Bharata Natyam along with Carnatic classical music to enable them to appreciate and understand the harmony of Indian music and dance.