Leela Samson

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Leela Samson
Born 1951 (age 62–63) [1]
Coonoor, Tamil Nadu
Occupation Chairperson: Central Board of Film Certification (2011– )
Director: Kalakshetra (2005– )
Chairperson: Sangeet Natak Akademi (2010– )
dancer, choreographer, instructor
Current group Spanda (1995–present)
Dances Bharatanatyam

Leela Samson (born 1951) is a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, instructor and writer. As a soloist she is known for her technical virtuosity and has taught Bharatanatyam at Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra in Delhi for many years;[2] presently she is the chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification (1 April 2011);[3] director of Kalakshetra (April 2005); and chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi (2010– ).[4]

Among the many honours conferred on her, Samson was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the President of India in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the art of Bharata Natyam as well as the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Bharatanatyam (1999–2000), given by Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Early life and training

Leela was born in Coonoor, Tamil Nadu. She is the daughter of Vice-Admiral (Ret) Benjamin Abraham Samson, from the Jewish Bene-Israelite community of India, and Laila, a Roman Catholic Indian.[5][6][6][7] After doing her B.A., she learnt Bharatanatyam at the Kalakshetra[6][8] under the founder Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Career

Starting her career as a Bharatanatyam soloist, Samson taught at Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi and Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Delhi. Over the years she has performed across India and abroad including Europe, Africa and the Americas.[6]

In 1995, Leela Samson formed Spanda, a dance group to review the traditional vocabulary of Bharatanatyam. Two documentary films — Sanchari and The Flowering Tree — have been made on her works.[9] Amongst her notable disciples included Joyce Paul Poursabahian and Justin McCarthy, who now teaches at Sri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra.[2] She has taught and mentored a galaxy of noted performers including the late Kamaljit Bhasin Maalik (Meeto), Jin Shan Shan (Eesha), Navtej Singh Johar and Anusha Subramanyam.

She became the director of Kalakshetra, Chennai in April 2005.[10] She resigned from this position in April 2012.[11][12]

In August 2010, she was appointed chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's national academy for music, dance and drama for five years. Before that she had was a member of the Academy for many years.[1][13]

She authored a widely acclaimed biography of Rukmini Devi Arundale. She was appointed chairperson of the Central Board for Film Certification in March 2011, succeeding the noted actor Sharmila Tagore who had held the position for two terms.

She has taught Bharatanatyam across the world, including at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London[6] and the annual Milapfest at Manchester.

Awards

Samson has received the Padma Shri (1990),[14] the Sanskriti, Nritya Choodamani, Kalaimamani (2005) given by Government of Tamil Nadu,[15] and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1999–2000) for contributions to Bharatanatyam.[16]

Works

  • Samson, Leela (1987). Rhythm in Joy: Classical Indian Dance Traditions. New Delhi: Lustre Press.
  • Samson, Leela (2010). Rukmini Devi: A Life, Delhi: Penguin Books, India, ISBN 0-670-08264-3.[17]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Press Release". Sangeet Natak Academi. August 10, 2010. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Borders no Bar". Indian Express. Jun 13, 2009. 
  3. ↑ "New censor board chief Leela Samson promises balanced approach". The Hindu (Chennai, India). April 2, 2011. 
  4. ↑ "Leela Samson takes over as Kalakshetra director". Chennai, India: The Hindu. Apr 18, 2005. 
  5. ↑ by Samson in Outlook India
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Artiste's Profile: Leela Samson, Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Government of India.
  7. ↑ Article about Jews of Mumbai
  8. ↑ Noted students of Kalakshetra
  9. ↑ www.penguinbooksindia.com
  10. ↑ Leela Samson Profile artindia.net.
  11. ↑ "I'll try through my dance to find myself again". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 30 April 2012. 
  12. ↑ "Leela Samson to quit as Kalakshetra director". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 28 April 2012. 
  13. ↑ "Leela Samson to be Sangeet Natak Academy chairperson". The Times of India. Jul 1, 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Padma Awards". Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. 
  15. ↑ Kalaimamani Awards for 123 persons announced The Hindu, Feb 15, 2006.
  16. ↑ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees". Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website. 
  17. ↑ www.outlookindia.com "First Light: Embodies the spirit of Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam in content, style and visual appeal"

External links

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