Leela Youth Dance Company

Activating Youth Voices through World-Class Training and Mentorship in Classical Indian Dance and Music

“Dancing is more than a passion…it is an intrinsic part of my identity”

Pragya Agarwal, Age 17

 

I’ve been a dancer for a long time, and something that used to be a class has become a part of my life

Ananya Bhardwaj, Age 16

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About Leela Youth Dance Company

Leela Youth Dance Company (LYDC) is an audition-based, pre-professional performing group under the artistic direction of kathak artist and educator, Rukhmani Mehta. The program champions excellence in kathak, classical dance of North India and serves as a platform for youth leadership development. Through world-class training and mentorship, the program empowers teens to develop their own voices and become advocates and ambassadors for Indian classical art and culture within their communities and in the world. LYDC has performed nationally in numerous prestigious festivals and venues including WorldWideWomen’s Girl’s Festival, San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts, Philadelphia Youth Festival, LA County’s Annual Holiday Celebration, and more.

Faculty

Artistic Director: Rukhmani Mehta
Senior Faculty: Seibi Lee, Joanna Meinl
Junior Faculty: Ahana Mukherjee

Members

Alumni

Avni Madhu
Mahika Goswamy
Ananya Bhardwaj
Maya Bhatia
Anaya Doshi
Pragya Agarwal
Varnika Bhat
Maanvi Dhadoti
Shriya Patel
Prisha Patel
Anvi Joshi

Sharra Kutty
Namita Nair
Maanibha Sengupta
Malika Saoji
Divija Keswani
Anika Pisal
Monishka Tanwan

Kaavya Venuturupalli
Anirra Kutty

Poorvi Sangli
Tvisha Soni
Anushka Bettigiri
Praajnya Gowder

Watch the Company

Leela Youth Dance Company is proud to make select performances available for viewing to audience members world wide on its youtube channel. Take a look at some of the company’s most recent performances across the United States, solo performances by company members as well archival performances featuring youth company alumni and more. 

Notable Performances

Leela Youth Dance Company performs at Livermore Valley Arts – Livermore, CA – April 2025
Empowering Womxn of Color Open Mic at La Pena Cultural Center – Berkeley, CA – March 2025
Imagine India at Hamlin Charter Academy – West Hills, CA – March 2025
Imagine India at Shenandoah Street Elementary – Los Angeles, CA – March 2025
Marghazi in San Francisco Music & Dance Festival – San Francisco, CA – October 2024
Ballet Roots Dance Company Annual Celebration – August 2024 – Livermore, CA 
Leela Youth Dance Company performs Imagine India – Agoura Hills, CA – May 2024
Leela Youth Dance Company performs Imagine India at the Ekal Vidyalaya Annual Gala – Irvine, CA – May 2024
Branham High School Cultural Festival – San Jose, CA – February 2024
The City of Los Angeles Celebrates Holi – Canoga Park, CA – March 2024
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley celebrates AAPI Heritage Month – Northridge, CA May 2023
Thousand Oaks Library celebrates Diwali – October 2023
St. Timothy School’s Cultural Festival – Los Angeles, CA May 2023
Philadelphia Youth Dance Festival – Philadelphia, PA – March 2023
Thousand Oaks Library celebrates Diwali – October 2022
Leela Youth Dance Company & Namaste Spiceland celebrate Diwali – Pasadena & Thousand Oaks, CA 
Azaad Ka Amrit Mahotsav, India’s 75th Anniversary Celebration – Cerritos, CA – August 2022
Archana, India Friends Associatoin’s Annual Fundraiser – Thousand Oaks, CA – April 2022
LA County Annual Holiday Celebration – Los Angeles, CA – December 2021
ReSound: Kathak in the Streets – Los Angeles & San Francisco, CA – September 2021
Leela Dance Collective

23650 Community Street
Los Angeles, CA 91304
P: 323.457.4522
E: info@leela.dance

Bookings

P: 775.560.2598
E: bookings@leela.dance

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