Leela’s nationally touring dance company, Leela Dance Collective (LDC), has garnered critical acclaim under the artistic direction of renowned kathak artists Rukhmani Mehta, Seibi Lee, and Rachna Nivas, and engages some of today’s leading dancers and musicians, as well as collaborative artists of other genres. LDC’s repertoire represents the breadth and depth of kathak, and amplifies the voices of a new generation of female artists. Through traditional works, cross genre collaborations, and cutting edge choreography, LDC is making kathak relevant for contemporary audiences worldwide.

In addition to performances in public spaces, LDC is expanding its performances in community spaces, such as libraries and local schools. In 2019, Leela joined the roster for the Music Center Performing Artists in Schools and Neighborhoods Program, a program designed to inspire creative thinking and introduce audiences K-12 to the world’s diverse cultural traditions through school performances. Through this program, LDC serves as a model for artistic excellence, inspires creative thinking, and introduces young audiences to the joy of kathak and the rich history of India’s cultural heritage.

Leela’s educational arm, the Leela Academy, provides world-class education and training in kathak and Hindustani classical music to children and youth. The Leela Academy’s cornerstone program, the Leela Youth Dance Company (LYDC), serves as our elite pre-professional performing group for girls in grades 7-12. The program champions excellence in kathak while serving as a platform for youth leadership development that empowers young South Asian American women as artists, cultural ambassadors and leaders of social change.

Finally, the Leela Foundation provides the financial infrastructure critical for the viability and sustainability of classical Indian artistic traditions. Through the artists, educators and programs supported, the Foundation ultimately seeks to ensure that communities worldwide and generations to come have access to the richness and depth of India’s artistic traditions.