New York, Aug 22 (IANS): An Indian-American classical dancer is set to perform at a concert in California this weekend to raise funds for a high-poverty elementary school, a media report said.

Sharanya Balaji, a 16-year-old senior from Harker school, said she wants to help the Grant Elementary School which lacks basic education facilities, mercurynews.com reported on Friday.

"It was shocking to me. Arts education was not there. I really wanted to do something that also meant something to me and that I could continue into the future," said Balaji.

"There are so many ways to raise a well-rounded child, and the arts are one of them," Grant Elementary Principal Paulette Zades said, adding that "We can give them academics all day, but they need both sides of it."

Balaji will perform at Los Altos high school in California.

She has won many competitions all over the world, including a junior division prize at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja festival in April this year.

She has been dancing professionally since she was 12 and has raised funds for the school earlier also.