iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
Leela Dance Collective, the Los Angeles-based internationally-touring kathak dance company that combines classical dance from North India with contemporary influences, has collected a $1 million endowment fund for The Leela Foundation to support the future of kathak dance and Hindustani classical music in the United States.
“The leaders of Leela Dance Collective are dedicated to the future of our art form: to supporting our fellow professional dancers and musicians, to training the next generation of kathak artists, and to artistic excellence in our field,” said Leela Dance Collective Co-Artistic Director Rukhmani Mehta. “Currently, it is virtually impossible for kathak dancers and classical Indian musicians to pursue a full-time career in their chosen field. This lack of infrastructure is directly tied to the legacy of colonialism, particularly the British dismantling of Indian artistic and cultural traditions. We still feel the effects of these historical events more than a century later.”
Leela Dance Collective, a critically acclaimed dance company that advances kathak, a classical dance form of India, was founded in 2016. Leela Dance Collective is led by renowned Kathak artists Rukhmani Mehta, Seibi Lee, and Rachna Nivas, and engages some of the leading dancers and musicians, as well as collaborative artists of other genres. Leela Dance Collective has created groundbreaking productions including SPEAK, Son of the Wind, ReSound, and more. Leela also trains the next generation of kathak artists, offering classes, training, and intensives through studios in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and New York, and online courses.
Leela launched a campaign to establish The Leela Foundation, the first United States-based endowment for North Indian artistic and cultural heritage in 2016. The Leela Foundation aims to build the financial infrastructure for kathak dance and Hindustani classical music through direct funding for artists in the form of salary support, fellowships, awards, and artist residencies.
The foundation granted the inaugural Artist Awards, providing direct support to some of today’s leading musicians in 2020. “A $1 million endowment is modest in the world of philanthropy and Western fine arts, but huge for our field of kathak and Hindustani classical music,” added Mehta. “So many incredibly talented and acclaimed classical Indian dance and music artists struggle to support their artistry and lives financially. This endowment fund aims to provide artists with the support they need to thrive and advance these art forms. Without such support, these artists and artistic traditions are at risk. I know this is just the beginning of what our community can build together, to secure and grow the future of our art form. We are so incredibly grateful to the individuals and funders who have helped us reach this initial goal.” The foundation aims to distribute 4% of the endowment’s market value every year.
“Leela Dance Collective is one of the very few professional touring companies elevating classical Indian dance and music on the world stage,” said Shirish Dayal, Executive Vice President of the Tarsadia Foundation. “We believe in their mission to advance and sustain cultural traditions and strengthen infrastructure for kathak dance and Hindustani classical music, and are proud to provide lead support for the Leela Foundation.”
