Devadasi Dance Mandira
Where every word is a song; and every step a dance.
Little Devadasi’s
Fine Arts Education Program
At Devadasi Mandira, our young students learn Odissi dance as a complete program in movement, music, storytelling, expression, and sacred artistic tradition. The Little Devadasi’s program provides supplemental fine arts instruction and performing arts electives for primarily homeschool students through structured Odissi dance education, cultural studies, movement training, rhythm, storytelling and creative expression.
These classes support children to connect to themselves on deeper levels, learning confidence, discipline, grace, emotional expression, deep wisdom, and spiritual values in joyful, artistic and creative ways. Odissi Dance is a profound foundation for each child to connect with their bodies, inner self, understand meaningful stories, and express beauty from the heart.
Little Devadasi Dance
A fine arts program for children to learn dance, yoga, storytelling, and artistic expression, inspired by the sacred traditions of Odissi dance and Vedic culture.
Our Approach: Learn Through Movement, Story, and Creative Play
Young children learn best through experience, movement, and imagination, not just sitting and passively listening.
In our Little Devadasi program, we approach learning in an experiential, arts-integrated approach where storytelling, dance, music and creative play become meaningful tools for learning and self-expression in a small micro-school sized group.
What Students Can Expect in Class
Each class begins with a morning circle group story time, followed by yoga/stretching and Odissi dance basics. We then move on to creative play, artistic projects in reading, drawing and writing, then move into practical life activities.
Learning Outcomes
Through learning the intricate movements of Classical Indian Dance, children strengthen coordination, focus, balance, body awareness and confidence.
By storytelling projects with each class, students nurture their imagination, reading/writing skills, emotional understanding and communication skills.
In studying the classical music that accompanies the dance, students develop an understanding of rhythm (tala), strengthen memory and listening skills while experiencing joy through self-expression.
“Dance is not just learned with the body; it is learned in the heart.”
-Lila-Svarupini
Curriculum
The Little Devadasi’s program is centered on creative arts as a primary mode of learning. We offer a nurturing environment where children grow through movement, storytelling, play, and hands-on experiences.
This is a supplemental creative arts enrichment program primarily for homeschool students.
What Children Experience
In class, children are guided to move, dance, and tell stories through expressive movement and music. They how to use mudra’s (hand gestures), rhythm patterns, and foundational steps that support the expression of emotions such as joy, curiosity, and calmness without relying only on words. Through imaginative exercises inspired by nature, animals, and storytelling, as well as coordinated group movement, they develop creativity, focus, confidence, and a sense of connection while learning to express themselves through music and movement in a joyful, structured environment.
Movement and Dance – Core Focus
Odissi dance and yoga are at the heart of our program. Children develop coordination, rhythm, balance, and body awareness through guided instruction and expressive movement. This also supports confidence, focus, and emotional expression in a joyful and engaging way.
Food Prep & Practical Life Skills
At the end of each class, children take part in simple, hands-on vegetarian food prep activities that build independence, responsibility, and real-world skills. These experiences encourage healthy habits. They also get to enjoy eating their delicious creations.
Performances & Projects
Students may participate in a Winter Showcase and Summer Recital, giving them the opportunity to build confidence through stage experience. Children will also create their own illustrated book project, supporting storytelling, drawing, early writing, sequencing, and creative expression.
Who We Serve
The Little Devadasi program primarily serves families of children ages 5-12 who are homeschooled, or available during weekday mornings.
Please note that this is a small group learning environment, with a maximum of 10 students per class.
Enrollment
We are currently accepting a limited number of students for the 2026-2027 school year. To maintain a small, personalized learning environment space is limited.
Contact Lila-Svarupini to apply.
Director
Lila-Svarupini (Alexis Fitch)
As a lifelong dancer and mother of four young children, Lila-Svarupini is an experienced creative arts and dance teacher with a passion for nurturing children through movement, storytelling, and expressive learning.
Her dance journey started at age 3 with learning ballet until age sixteen. She discovered early on the power of movement as a form of expression. By age eleven, she was already assisting as a junior instructor, beginning her journey in guiding others through dance.
After stepping away from dance during a transformative period of life, she returned to her dance roots, this time studying the classical Indian Dance form of Odissi. This gave her a deeper understanding that dance has the ability to bring healing, restore health and bring joy.
Lila-Svarupini founded Devadasi Dance Mandira to teach students of her local community in 2022. She originally developed the Little Devadasi program for her own children in 2023 and it has organically expanded to serve several children in her local community with growing demand.
Lila currently teaches young children ages 5-12 in Little Devadasi’s as well as ages 13 and up. By encouraging each student with a genuine love for teaching she creates a peaceful, nurturing space where everyone can learn fine arts in a natural, creative space, without pressure or unreasonable expectations.
Little Devadasi Schedule
Little Devadasi’s Schedule
(ages 6-12)
2026-2027 School Year
1st Semester September 2nd 2026 – December 11th 2026
2nd Semester January 6th – May 28th 2027
Wednesday’s 10am – 1:30pm
Friday’s 10am – 1:30pm
Tuition/Cost
Payments for each semester can be made in installments of one, two or four payments. 5% discount applies to payments made in full before the first class of each semester.
Fall Semester-
Friday classes only -$740
Wednesday;s & Friday’s -$1400
Spring Semester-
Friday classes only – $925
Wednesday’s & Friday’s – $1800
Vegetarian Lunch and snack are provided.
Educational Benefits
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Physical Education: Students develop posture, flexibility, stamina, balance, coordination and body awareness through structured dance practice and yoga.
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Performing Arts: Students learn rhythm, expression, storytelling, stage presence and the foundations of classical Indian dance.
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Cultural Studies: Students are introduced to the Vedic arts, Sanskrit vocabulary, devotional themes and respectful cultural practices.
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Emotional Wellbeing: The goal of our classes are for each child to build self-confidence through healthy connection with their bodies through creative movement and guided expression in a safe, supportive homeschool enviroment.
Our Studio Space
Little Devadasi Dance Classes are held in a beautiful loft dance studio located in the comfort of Lila’s home in Alachua, Florida. Set on 1.5 acres, our space offers children a peaceful, nurturing environment where they can learn, move, create, and grow.
Beyond the dance studio, the property provides room for outdoor creative play, nature-based activities, storytelling, movement games, and imaginative exploration. With four children of our own, our home-studio has all creative playgrounds and activities for all students to feel safe to play, be inspired, and feel personally cared for while experiencing the depth, beauty, and joy of classical dance and creative education.
Small Groups, Meaningful Growth
We intentionally keep our Little Devadasi classes small and meet a maximum of two days a week to support homeschooling families with a consistent, enriching rhythm that does not overwhelm the week.
Small groups allow each child to receive personal attention, gentle guidance, and meaningful support while building confidence in movement, expression, music, and storytelling, supporting steady progress and structure while still leaving space for home learning, family life, rest, and creative integration.
Please visit Devadasi Mandira for information on classes for ages 13 and up.
Little Devadasi Dance classes are structured as a supplemental fine arts enrichment program for homeschool students, with a focus on classical Indian dance, movement education, cultural studies, rhythm, storytelling, and creative expression.
By enrolling in the Little Devadasi Program families receive quality fine arts education in a nurtiring small group enviroment. and connect with a living tradition developing discipline, coordination, focus, creativity, confidence and expressive movement skills.
Devadasi Dance Mandira
Where every word is a song; and every step a dance.
Devadasi Dance Mandira is dedicated to preserving and sharing the sacred tradition of Odissi, a classical Indian dance form with deep cultural roots in the temples of Lord Jagannath in Puri, Odisha in India. Carried through the lineage of the Maharis also known as Devadasi’s, the Gotipuas, and the great revival masters such as Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Odissi remains a living bridge between art, culture, devotion, embodied expression, and spiritual connection.
Lila-Svarupini, is a student of Smt. Sujata Mohapatra in the Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra lineage. Her personal journey – from healing through Odissi dance to becoming a performer and teacher, reflects the heart of her teaching: using movement, music, and creative expression to support each student to reconnect with oneself, and move deeper.
Please visit Devadasi Mandira for information on classes for ages 13 and up.
