Transforming lives and communities through the power of dance and music

K-12 STEAM education

San Fernando Valley West LA East LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Mainstream arts programs frequently overlook or exclude the culturally specific traditions of immigrant communities. This limits participation of immigrant youth in the arts and denies them access to meaningful arts learning experiences that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity—skills essential for success in the 21st century. Culturally specific arts education when combined with mentorship and leadership development plays a vital role in helping immigrant youth build social capital, essential skills and a sense of belonging. This can have a powerful ripple effect across their communities. When young people are empowered to embrace their identity, express themselves, and take on leadership roles, they become catalysts for community pride, cohesion, and resilience. Their growth strengthens community assets such as cultural knowledge, intergenerational connections, and civic engagement and contributes to safer, more supportive environments for communities as a whole.

The Leela Youth Dance Company is a culturally-rooted program that provides subsidized, low-cost training in Indian classical dance and music, mentorship and leadership development to a dedicated cohort of South Asian American young women ages 7 to 17 each year. The program offers comprehensive, sequential instruction in dance technique and movement, storytelling, and the historical and cultural context of the art form. Students train with world-class artists and tradition bearers, receiving five hours of intensive training weekly during the academic year, along with two weeks of immersive study each summer.
Company members perform throughout the year at community festivals, schools, and in public spaces, providing free, high-quality arts programming that reaches 4,000–4,500 audience members annually - including 800–1,200 K–12 students. These performances foster a sense of cohesion and community within immigrant populations. Twice a year, students engage in immersives and shared performances with youth studying other culturally specific art forms such as tap dance, taiko drumming, flamenco, and ballet folklórico. These experiences foster meaningful intercultural exchange and build social bonds across diverse communities.
Through this multifaceted programming, the Leela Youth Dance Company nurtures the next generation of artists, cultural ambassadors and leaders, while amplifying cultural and community visibility and enriching the fabric and resilience of the broader community.

Leela Youth Dance Company operates in three key geographic communities - the San Fernando Valley, West Los Angeles and East Los Angeles/Pasadena. If the program reaches its full potential these communities will be more inclusive, culturally vibrant and interconnected. Young South Asian American women would be empowered as artists and leaders, proudly representing their heritage and contributing to the county’s creative landscape. Immigrant communities would experience greater visibility, connection, and pride through free, high-quality performances in public spaces. Cross-cultural exchanges would break down barriers and foster deeper understanding among diverse communities. Cultural literacy would grow in communities, helping to combat stereotypes and reduce social isolation. Ultimately, Los Angeles would become a stronger, safer, and more resilient community—where the arts are a bridge between cultures, a source of youth empowerment and community connection and transformation.