Artistic Direction
Leela Dance Collective is led by co-artistic directors Rukhmani Mehta, Seibi Lee, and Rachna Nivas — senior disciples of legendary kathak master and guru Pandit Chitresh Das, and torch-bearers of his lineage and vision. Together, they bring decades of performance, teaching, and creative leadership to the Collective’s work, guided by a shared commitment to advancing kathak in its full depth and integrity.
Repertoire
Leela Dance Collective’s repertoire spans the full range of kathak — from traditional solo and ensemble works that honor the classical form in its integrity, to groundbreaking cross-genre collaborations that use kathak as a vehicle for dialogue and exchange across boundaries. Productions such as SPEAK, Encounters with Beauty, and Son of the Wind bring artists and communities together in the kinds of encounters that only live performance can create.
Community Engagement
Beyond the stage, Leela Dance Collective is deeply committed to building connection and access around the art of kathak. With roots in storytelling, devotion, and rhythmic dialogue, kathak is a uniquely powerful vehicle for sparking conversation and creating shared experience — brought to life through engagement programs designed for diverse communities nationwide.
Our Legacy
Leela Dance Collective carries forward the legacy of the Chitresh Das Dance Company, founded in 1980 by Pandit Chitresh Das — a pioneering artist who placed kathak dance on American stages. Over 35 years, Das created some 50 works and established kathak as a vital presence in the American performing arts landscape. His rootedness in tradition and his innovative spirit remain the foundation of everything the Collective does.
Leela Dance Collective
23650 Community Street
Los Angeles, CA 91304
E: info@leela.dance
