Theiyā Arts School
Theiyā Arts School is our education programme of South Asian arts. We offer weekly classes for children and adults, across different ages and stages of learning, with teaching that balances technical training with care, context, and creative growth.
Running since 2019, our programme includes both group and 1 to 1 learning. We aim to make both the content and the form accessible to people facing barriers related to language, time, learning, or mobility.
We prioritise each student’s expression of the art form within their body, rather than forcing conformity to a single aesthetic.
Locations: Edinburgh, Livingston, Bridgend (and online sessions when available).
The South Asian art forms we teach
Bharatanatyam
A South Indian classical dance form grounded in strong technique, rhythm, and storytelling—held with care, context, and contemporary relevance
Kathak
North Indian classical dance rooted in rhythm, musicality, and storytelling. We teach Kathak with clear technique, critical attention, and inclusive into learning for different bodies and backgrounds
Kandyan
A Sri Lankan classical dance tradition rooted in dynamic movement, rhythm, and ceremonial lineage—taught with attention to form and cultural context
Hindustani classical music
A North Indian classical music tradition rooted in raga and tala, developing listening, voice or instrumental practice, and musical understanding with care and context.
Youth Dance Group
The Youth Dance Group is our pre-professional performing group for young people aged 11–18 who are already committed to learning a South Asian classical dance form. It offers a space to explore current themes through classical movement vocabulary, approached through a contemporary lens, building confidence, collaboration, and performance experience.
Certification Programme
Our Certification Programme is a structured way of recognising students’ learning journeys in South Asian dance, designed to support both artistic development and wider life skills. It is not a traditional exam system. Instead, it celebrates step-by-step growth through ongoing learning, reflection, and practice.
Certification Pathways
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Theiyā Certificate (built into weekly classes)
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Theiyā Certificate + Arts Award / Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) (an additional pathway that can support portfolios and, at higher levels, UCAS-linked progression)
Across the programme, students develop technique and performance experience alongside skills such as body awareness, storytelling, critical thinking, leadership, and inclusive practice.
