COLLABORATIONS
Leela School of Dance recognizes the importance and impact of all arts, and we strive to nurture collaborations that encourage creativity between different organizations. These collaborations help our community to broaden their experiences, and also helps the students to learn new ways of communicating through the arts. This is a sample of some of the organizations with which we have collaborated.
El Futuro
We at Leela School of Dance are deeply grateful to El Futuro for the opportunity to perform at their Mental Health Solidarity Convening. It was an honor to share our art and connect with new members of the community who are equally committed to fostering healing and well-being. Thank you for creating such an inspiring space for collaboration and unity!
International Focus: Global Beats
Living in NC has given us at Leela, wonderful opportunities to share our art. Collaborating with International Focus was yet another opportunity to present our art to new audiences, many of whom had never heard of Bharata Natyam before, and yet were moved to tears. That is the power of this dance that is hundreds of years old as are the stories it tells. Yet they are as relevant today because of their timeless quality.
North Carolina Legislative Arts Day
Attending NC Arts Legislative Day 2024 allowed us at Leela to celebrate the vital role the arts play in North Carolina’s cultural landscape. Engaging with policymakers and community leaders provided a unique opportunity to advocate for Bharata Natyam and other traditional arts, demonstrating their power to unite and inspire across generations. This ancient art form, with its timeless stories, continues to resonate deeply with audiences today, bridging cultural divides and reinforcing the importance of sustaining the arts in our state.
African American Cultural Festival
Participating in the African American Cultural Festival in downtown Raleigh was an enriching experience for us at Leela. This vibrant celebration of culture and heritage provided a unique platform to share the expressive beauty of Bharata Natyam with new audiences, fostering cultural exchange and mutual appreciation. As we performed, we witnessed how the ancient stories of our dance resonated, bridging communities and highlighting the universal language of art that connects us all.
Leela Foundation
Founded by Asha Bala in 2020 to enrich the artistic experience of the community, Leela Foundation’s mission is to link the community and the arts through performance, education, and outreach, to create a space where artistic expression through dance, music, visual arts, and the written word is celebrated, to educate, enthrall, and enliven. Through the Leela Foundation, students are introduced to professional dance performances and workshops that raise the technical and philosophical and cultural intelligence of the student. Because this organization is the sister organization to Leela School of Dance, collaborative opportunity is ongoing throughout the year. This gallery shows a small portion of the work that Leela Foundation does that supplements Leela School of Dance.
NC Folk Festival
Located in Greensboro, this collaboration introduces students to view folk performances from outside the Triangle while giving them an opportunity to showcase their art to new audiences. According to the NC Folk Festival website, “The North Carolina Folk Festival honors, celebrates, and shares the meaningful ways communities express their creativity and cultural traditions through music, dance, food, crafts and other folk arts to enhance appreciation of diverse traditions and contribute to community vibrancy and inclusivity.”
North Carolina Master Chorale
From the North Carolina Master Chorale Website,
“The mission of the North Carolina Master Chorale is to enrich the cultural lives of our communities through exceptional choral music. Founded in 1942 as the Raleigh Oratorio Society, the North Carolina Master Chorale is committed to bringing the very finest in choral music performance to Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill audiences. Under the direction of Dr. Alfred E. Sturgis since 1993, the Chorale boasts a 170-voice Symphonic Chorus and a smaller, professional Chamber Choir whose size varies by project.”
Leela School proudly partnered with the Leela Foundation, NCMC, and community collaborators Seema Vishwanath and Pavani Peri on the Reena Esmail project. This musical spectacle seamlessly blended Western and Indian music with Bharata Natyam and Kathak.
Durham Arts Council -CAPS
Leela School of Dance has proudly partnered with The Durham Arts Council’s program, CAPS (Creative Arts in Public and Private Schools.) According to the Durham Arts Council’s website, “Established in 1972, Creative Arts in Public and Private Schools (CAPS) places professional artists to provide interactive arts programs in public and private classrooms and community settings throughout Durham, Granville, Orange, and Person counties. Our partners include community centers, schools, after-school programs, community festivals, and senior centers. Professional development arts workshops are also available for teachers and business teams. Through these partnerships, CAPS reaches over 27,000 students each year.
As part of the CAPS partnership, Leela school taught at two A+ schools, Sandy Ridge Elementary and Creedmoor Elementary. Programs include performances, workshops and residencies that use the arts to teach core curriculum subjects (such as math, science, writing, social studies), character education, and a variety of life skills.”
NC State University
As Leela School of Dance students adorned NCSU students in vibrant saris, embellished them with fragrant flowers, and bestowed upon them traditional bangles, the event transcended mere cultural exchange—it became a deeply immersive module, etching lasting impressions on all participants. Moreover, the culmination of this experience on Vijayadasami, a significant day in the realms of dance and music, not only heightened the immersive nature of the occasion but also provided a profound introduction to the revered traditions associated with this auspicious celebration.