Leaders

Helping schools and parents recognize dance as a potent educational tool goes beyond entertainment; it enriches personality and fosters holistic growth. Dance instills discipline, boosts confidence, and enhances creativity, shaping well-rounded individuals. By integrating dance into academics, we nurture essential life skills like teamwork and self-expression. This understanding transforms dance from a mere hobby into a powerful catalyst for personal development. Recognizing dance as a fundamental part of education helps students develop resilience and adaptability, essential for succeeding in various areas of life. With this insight and a deep-seated belief in the power of movement as a tool for holistic growth, Kirthana Ramarapu introduced Kinderdance in India.

Kirthana Ramarapu is the visionary Founder and Director of Kinderdance India and Learning Parachute, bringing the innovative US-based educational program to India. With a passion for transforming education through creative means, Kirthana has been instrumental in revolutionizing how children learn and develop through dance. Kirthana’s scientifically structured curricula cater to children from 18 months to middle school, aiming to enhance their growth through dance and movement. Since the launch of Kinderdance India, Kirthana has partnered with numerous schools across India, garnering positive feedback for improving children's physical motor skills and overall development. Beyond working directly with children, Kirthana is dedicated to training educators through her 'train the trainer' programs and the unique Five W's to Music and Movement workshop. Her efforts have eliminated barriers to learning, creating a seamless blend of education and physical fitness, and establishing a new standard in child development and academics.

Below is an excerpt of Kirthana Ramarapu’s exclusive interaction with Women Entrepreneurs Review magazine.

Take us through your educational background. What motivated you to foray into the field of education?

I hold a BSc in Science, originally aspiring to become a pediatrician, a field that aligns closely with my passion for children's well-being. However, life took an unexpected turn when my family moved to Africa, where educational options were limited to homeschooling or boarding schools. My father lived there for 30 years, and I was homeschooled before returning to India to attend Vidya Mandir, where I honed various skills and pursued my academics like any regular child.

After my wedding, I moved to the US and completed a computer programming course from UC Berkeley through their evening correspondence program. However, my profound interest in education stems from my family background. My mother, a teacher who owned a kindergarten school in Nigeria, along with many of my uncles and aunts who were educators, significantly influenced me. Their dedication and passion for teaching guided me towards this field.

I am deeply passionate about children's growth and positive development. I believe that the early years are crucial; providing a strong foundation during these formative years ensures that children grow into resilient and positive adults. This belief has driven my journey in academics, supported not only by formal education but also by rich, practical experiences gained from my family’s legacy in teaching.

Introduce us to Kinderdance India. Tell us about the underlying idea behind the venture and its key areas of expertise.

Kinderdance India, a visionary venture under Learning Parachute India, addresses a crucial gap in early childhood education by merging dance and academics. Sparked by a personal need for quality programs in music and movement for young children, Kinderdance harnesses the power of dance to foster critical and analytical thinking, language development, and reading habits. Since its inception in 2009, we have developed specialized curriculums for ages 18 months to Middle School, promoting holistic growth and physical fitness. Our expertise lies in creating a dynamic learning environment that not only enhances academic prowess but also instills a lifelong passion for learning and well-being.

What are the various responsibilities you shoulder as Kinderdance India’s Founder & Director? What are your focus areas in terms of driving growth for the company?

As the Founder and Director of Kinderdance India, I shoulder a variety of responsibilities, focusing on three main areas. My top priority is ensuring the quality of classes delivered by our faculty. I believe that keeping children happy and engaged encourages them to return, which in turn assures parents and schools of the program's value. I see myself as the Chief Creative Program Officer, collaborating with my team to develop innovative and captivating classes for children as young as two years old. In addition to overseeing class quality, I handle business development and overall company management. My open-door policy fosters a collaborative environment where ideas are freely exchanged, leading to continuous improvement. I employ the Golden Strategy Square in my decision-making process, which helps indefining the best course of action for both personal and company growth. This method is particularly useful for making critical decisions, from weekly meeting agendas to long-term strategies.

I also utilize tools to facilitate structured and productive meetings with my team. Empowering my team to take initiative and learn from their mistakes is essential to our success. Many of my team members have been with me for years, contributing to a strong, cohesive unit, their dedication and willingness to grow alongside the company ensure that we can scale effectively and sustain our success.

Ultimately, while I take a critical approach to scaling the company, I attribute our growth to teamwork. My role involves guiding and supporting my team, but it is their collective effort and innovation that drive Kinderdance India forward.

In your opinion what are some of the most critical challenges you encounter as an educator? What steps do you undertake to overcome these roadblocks?

One of the critical challenges I encountered when launching Kinderdance was the existing education system, which already had traditional dance programs. Many schools felt they didn’t need an additional program like ours. To overcome this, I showcased the uniqueness of our approach by conducting demos and explaining how we teach toddlers using dance as a tool for academic growth. Effective communication was key in demonstrating the value of our program, and this strategy successfully expanded our reach from one school to many.

Another significant challenge was recruiting dedicated dance teachers. Initially, it was tough to find individuals who understood and embraced the concept of ‘academics through dance', to address this, we adopted a creative recruitment process involving the candidates' families. By inviting parents or spouses to our office, we explained the responsibilities and importance of the role and this approach helped us build strong, long-term relationships with our team members. Despite the initial difficulties, these strategies enabled us to overcome obstacles and foster a supportive, committed team. Every day brings new challenges, but our innovative and communicative approach ensures we continue to find effective solutions.

What are some of the most critical professional milestones you have achieved over the years?

One of the most critical professional milestones I've achieved is transitioning from conducting classes for eight children in a clubhouse in Whitefield, Bangalore, to expanding Kinderdance India across eight cities and over 100 schools, impacting over 85,000 to one lakh children. Growing the team and aligning everyone with the company's vision has been a significant challenge, typical for any growing enterprise. Launching new products successfully, such as our corporate daycare summer camps across 100 centers nationwide, is a testament to our journey.

How will Kinderdance India's growth plan enhance ECCE and promote Indian folklore globally?

Our future growth plan aligns with the National Education Policy, integrating dance, arts, and physical fitness into our 40-year-old curriculum. We aim to enhance the ECCE Framework, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and self-reliance, also our goal is to deliver this program nationwide, touching more lives across all tiers in India. Collaborating with industry leaders, we strive to innovate and expand globally, incorporating Indian folklore to share our rich culture worldwide. This approach showcases our strategic vision and leadership in education.

Kirthana Ramarapu, Founder & Director, Kinderdance India

Kirthana Ramarapu Is The Founder & Director Of Kinderdance India, Pioneering Educational Dance Programs For Children. With A Passion For Holistic Development, She Empowers Young Minds Through Creative Learning. Her Innovative Approach Has Transformed Dance Into A Powerful Tool For Academics And Personality Enhancement.