Shyamala is the Founder Managing Trustee & Principal of Dharani School of Performing Arts established in 1987. The school was started with a couple of students with the aim of weaning the students from the frenzy of youth festivals. It has now grown into a full fledged arts institution, encouraging the children to change their outlook towards classical arts , helping them make art a part of their life, irrespective of the profession they follow. Shyamala has been teaching Bharatanatyam for the past 33 years starting from 1987 and Mohiniyattam for the past 26 years since 1994. She has given travelled all around the world teaching and performing in many countries such as Germany, Hungary, Russia, USA, Austria, Canada, etc.
Shyamala has many productions to her credit. ‘Thatwamasi,’ the story of Ayyapa in the saptam format , Sthree shakti on women’s empowerment, Vanamalee on Chittorappan(Lord Krishna) and Dances of Kerala to name a few.
Shyamala provides free dance lessons to underprivileged children and takes classes at Vatsalya Bhavan for homeless children. She was the Managing Trustee of the Sarvodhaya International, Cochin Chapter until recently.