Testimonials
Here's what our parents, students and alumni have to say
"Kiara has been instrumental not just in the fine arts development of both our boys, but also in their whole personality development, in seeing them through their teenage years.
Kiara is safe space for children who grow up in Bangalore, where their spare time is filled with fine fillings of music, dance and, above all, diligence and discipline. The emphasis on diligence and discipline, served with firmness and love, serves as a very important aspect of the development of children into young adults and more.
In the otherwise crowded world of school and society where these children become just numbers, Kiara treats each of them as special, with a key place on the stage and in the world."
- Jacob and Megha Chandy
Kiara Performers and Parent Body
“I chose Kiara because of accessibility, consistency, an inkling of Ms.Wendy’s abilities and how it tied into my philosophy of bringing up a child, but, over the years, it has come to mean much more than that to me.
My children have had the opportunity to sing in multiple shows. Here, they have learned the value of teamwork, being present to all that’s happening around them, being presentable, being on time and lending a hand wherever needed. That for me was the biggest return on investment – his confidence, his abilities and the icing on the cake – his need to participate.”
- Arthi Saktheeswaran
Kiara Parent Body
“Kiara’s credo that every child should go on stage, made Smaran, slowly but surely come out of his shell and grow up to be confident and self assured.
Wendy’s delegation of responsibilities before a big show has instilled in Smaran a sense of responsibility. Punctuality, kindness, teamwork, respect, a willingness to help others… I could go on.
Smaran joined Kiara to gain musical knowledge. He has gained friends for life, a family, values that will always hold him in good stead, two dancing feet (all thanks to Tina!) and, of course, a lifelong love for music.”
- Bubli Srikanth
Kiara Parent Body
I joined Kiara when I was four years old and was a student there for 17 years. I learnt many valuable lessons about my life from my years in Kiara. As a performer, I learnt how to sing, dance, act and then do all three at Kiara.
The most important thing, however, that I think Kiara teaches, is the kind of person you should be off stage. Our director, Miss Wendy and our assistant director, Miss Tina push you to be a better performer and a better person. At Kiara, you learn to work as a team, you learn to be humble, you don’t just join a choir or dance team, you join a family.
Personally, I evolved from just a singer to a dancer as well as an actor. My most esteemed accomplishment at Kiara was the fact that in our last production, I was also one of the directors of the show.
I am currently pursuing my Masters degree in Advertising and Marketing at the University of Leeds Business School which is one of the highest ranked business schools in the United Kingdom. I can confidently say that I would not be where I am today if it was not for the impact that Kiara has had on me. Kiara teaches you about the kind of man you should be off stage while preparing you to be on it.
— Jonathan Ian Franco, student from 2006 – 2023
I first joined Kiara at the age of 11 in 2015 and got the incredible opportunity to join the dance team for their upcoming musical “Grease.”
Throughout my nine years, I have been exposed to the numerous aspects of performance art, from technique to stage presence, and from expression to storytelling. I was not only trained in dance, my artform of choice, but was also pushed to expand my knowledge of the arts by experiencing being a part of the choir and by training in theatre. I took part in the numerous performances hosted by the academy, putting the skills I had learnt during class to use. Additionally, I was consistently introduced to learning opportunities around Bangalore, such as dance workshops, and met artists from various areas of performance art. Under the guidance of Wendy Dickson and Tina Dickson Franco, I built a strong foundation in the arts.
Over time, I was entrusted with several opportunities within the academy. Starting off with an internship to teach dance to children aged seven to eleven, I was later entrusted with the role of choreographer, choreographing and teaching the dance team alongside Rachel Ann Franco.
I believe that my journey displays the environment created by Kiara for its performers: a safe space for artistic expression and creativity. By trusting in its artists, Kiara opens up the potential of each of its students. At Kiara, I am consistently growing into, not only the best performer I can be, but also the best version of myself.
Now, I am an undergraduate student at York University in Toronto, Canada, majoring in Biology and minoring in Dance. Chasing my dreams, I look back on all that Kiara has done for me and look forward to returning to my second home.
— Anahieta Mohandesi, student from 2015 - 2023
