Leela Samson

Leela Samson is a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor, and writer from India. As a soloist she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in Delhi for many years, and has taught Bharatanatyam across the world, including at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, and the annual Milapfest at Manchester. Over the years she has performed across India, Europe, Africa and the Americas. She was appointed as the chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi in August 2010, and has received numerous awards including the Padma Shri (1990), the Sanskriti, Nritya Choodamani, Kalaimamani (2005) given by Government of Tamil Nadu, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1999–2000) for contributions to Bharatanatyam.