Artistic Directors
Leela Dance Collective is led by three renowned kathak artists- senior disciples of Pandit Chitresh Das, whose artistry and collective vision are defining kathak’s place in the American dance landscape.
Rukhmani Mehta
Founding Artist, Artistic Director
Rukhmani Mehta is a kathak artist, choreographer, and educator working at the intersection of classical Indian dance, contemporary performance, and embodied inquiry. A senior disciple of legendary kathak master Pandit Chitresh Das, she is Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective, Artistic Director of Leela Youth Dance Company, and Founder of the Leela Foundation. Her original works include SPEAK, Son of the Wind, and Encounters with Beauty, and her solo work Sandhi has earned widespread critical acclaim. Her work has been presented at venues including 92nd Street Y, the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Mumbai, The Broad Stage, and NC State Live.
Seibi Lee
Founding Artist, Artistic Director
Seibi Lee is a consummate kathak artist known for her powerful mastery, refined musicality, and dramatic brilliance. A distinguished disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das, she is a founding artist of Leela Dance Collective and Dean of Leela San Francisco. As principal dancer of the Chitresh Das Dance Company, she earned an Isadora Duncan Dance Special Award and two subsequent nominations. Her choreographic work includes Son of the Wind and the solo work Houyi and Chang’e, developed through a two-year Artist in Residence at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center. She has been recognized by the Alliance of California Traditional Arts as a Master Artist.
Rachna Nivas
Founding Artist, Artistic Director
Rachna Nivas is a kathak artist, choreographer, educator, and cultural activist devoted to upholding the integrity of North Indian classical art while advancing its contemporary relevance. A senior disciple of Pandit Chitresh Das, she is Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective and Founder and Director of The Kathak Legacy Project in New York. Her original works include SPEAK, Reclaiming the Divine Feminine, Son of the Wind, and Meera. She was Artist-in-Residence at 92NY’s Harkness Dance Center (2024–25) and is a recipient of the Dance Research Fellowship of the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.
Leela Dance Collective
23650 Community Street
Los Angeles, CA 91304
E: info@leela.dance
