MSP 166: Rukhmani Mehta
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Creating a Vision for Kathak with Rukhmani Mehta
Today on Movers & Shapers, we are joined by Rukhmani Mehta (previously Rina Mehta). Rukhmani is a choreographer, dancer, educator, Artistic Director of Leela Youth Dance Company, and the Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective, which brings together leading artists from around the world to advance a collective vision for kathak, a classical North Indian dance. In this episode, Rukhmani speaks about her love for creating community through dance and her deep interest in and curiosity for collaborative projects and processes. What stands out most is Rukhmani\\u2019s resounding passion for her work and art form, despite the struggles she has had along the way, as well as the thoughtfulness with which she has built her life in dance, from co-leadership of her company to teaching to creating the first-ever endowment to support kathak dance and music in the US and more. Tune in today for an inspiring conversation about the power of collaboration, community, and preserving culture!
Key Points From This Episode:
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How Rukhmani started dancing and when she fell in love with kathak.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 What she learned about the art form from kathak master, Pt. Chitresh Das.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The profoundly transformational experience that studying kathak afforded her.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 How she learned to follow her heart and commit to starting a professional dance company.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Steps Rukhmani took to build a life in dance, including teaching and the Leela Foundation.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Audience development and creating a future for kathak as an educator.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Unpacking Rukhmani\\u2019s belief in the power of collaboration.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Where the name Leela comes from and how it speaks to spontaneous creativity.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Insight into Rukhmani\\u2019s love for creating communities of young women through dance.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The process of building Leela as a collective and how it was impacted by COVID.
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Joys and challenges of a dance career and what you can look forward to from Leela!
\\xb7\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 The heartwarming story of why Rukhmani changed her name from Rina.
\\u201cMy work is about being an artist and putting the art form out in the world but \\u2013 it has also become about creating the infrastructure that the artists who are carrying these traditions forward need.\\u201d \\u2014 Rukhmani Mehta
Rukhmani Mehta\\xa0brings a singular voice and vision to the art form of kathak, a classical dance genre from North India;\\xa0she is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and Co-Founder/Co-Artistic Director of Leela Dance Collective.\\xa0
More on this episode: Movers & Shapers
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