Meet Rina Mehta | Dancer, Choreographer, Entrepreneur, & Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rina Mehta and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was never really interested in starting my own business. Growing up I was a typical Indian American kid. My parents encouraged me to do well in school and pursue a financially sound career. I attended UC Berkeley and received my degrees in Immunology and Public Health. After graduating, I started working and climbing the proverbial corporate ladder. Dance had always been a part of my life. In high school, I studied Bharatanatyam, South Indian classical dance. While at UC Berkeley, I stumbled upon a Kathak class being offered on Telegraph Avenue. I wasn’t interested in Kathak, which is classical dance of North India, but decided to give it a try. When I took my first class, I had no idea that my life had changed.

Over the next ten years, I was completely taken by the dance. I started dancing four days a week, then six, then seven. I began teaching and performing with my teacher, Pt. Chitresh Das’, school and company. I did all of this while studying at UC Berkeley and then while working. Eventually I arrived at a crossroads. I simply could not sustain doing it all. My work became more demanding as did the dance. I had to choose. In the end I could not let go of the dance. I quit my job, moved in with my parents and decided to try “being a dancer”. I had no idea what that meant. I began trying to get performances and bookings and when that wasn’t enough to pay the bills, I started teaching.

As I tried and failed and tried and failed again to get my dance career off the ground, I began to understand what the field of Indian classical dance and music really looks like. Performance opportunities for Indian classical dancers are scarce. The ones that are available pay little to nothing or ask dancers to make troublesome compromises. There are no artistic development or performance grants available for Indian classical dancers. One of the only ways these dancers can make a stable living is to teach. As I began to more deeply understand how the cards are truly stacked against those trying to pursue Indian classical dance and music, I felt compelled to do something. And so, I started the Leela Institute of Kathak hoping to address some of the systemic issues that face the field.

Today I am proud to say that the Leela Institute of Kathak is home to Leela Dance Collective, a dance company that tours nationally and internationally; Leela Academy, which trains the next generation of kathak dancers and artists; and Leela Foundation, which provides direct financial support to Indian classical dancers and musicians.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a Kathak dancer, choreographer and educator. Kathak is classical dance of Northern India. I had the privilege to study the art form with master artist, Pandit Chitresh Das for 15 years in the traditional guru-shishya parampara, a system of teaching and learning akin to the master apprentice model. I performed in his acclaimed company, the Chitresh Das Dance Company for more than 10 years as a principal dancer and taught at his school. Eventually I started my own organization, dance company and school. I am proud to say that my company, the Leela Dance Collective, tours nationally and internationally, bringing classical Indian dance to new audiences around the world. Some of my artistic works include SPEAK, a kathak and tap collaboration; Son of the Wind, a traditional dance drama; and ReSound, a pop-up performance series. I also teach and mentor a new generation of upcoming dancers and direct the Leela Youth Dance Company, a pre-professional group that empowers young South Asian women to develop their own voices and become cultural ambassadors, artists and leaders.

There are so many things I love about my work. I love that I get to wake up every morning and dance. I absolutely love being engaged in the creative process. To take an idea and give it shape and form in this world is a downright thrilling process. I love being able to work with inspiring artists from all different walks of life and art. And I love seeing young minds and hearts discover the joy and magic of kathak dance for the first time.

And of course there are challenges to being an Indian classical dancer in today’s world. India has become quite popular these days. You will find a yoga studio and an Indian restaurant in virtually every neighborhood in LA. You can even attend Bollywood night in DTLA every fall! Indian Americans are gaining visibility in every profession – from politics to tech to entertainment. Despite the popularization and consumption of all things Indian, there are few platforms available for Indian classical dance and music. Mainstream performance art venues still almost exclusively present western dance and music and funding and patronage for Indian classical art remains scarce.

There are also those challenges that come with being a woman in this field. There are countless women that study, perform and teach Indian classical dance, carrying on the tradition with integrity and dedication. Yet there are few that rise to the level of national and international recognition. Fewer of them yet become recognized master artists and gurus – the highest position given to an individual in the field. I often feel grateful because there truly are more opportunities for women dancers and artists today than ever before. Yet there is a real glass ceiling that I encounter almost every day as I try to create, perform and teach.

Some days I am definitely defeated by these challenges. But there is so much that inspires and encourages me. The sheer joy of the dance. My friends, family, and colleagues – all of whom support me unconditionally. The examples and stories of brave women – creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, engineers and doctors – breaking barriers and creating waves in the world. And a new generation of youth – talented, bright-eyed, and eager – emerging to take their place in the world.

India has given birth to an incredible array of artistic traditions – each one rich and deep and magical in its own right. Kathak is the one that I fell in love with. The dance has given me a way to discover my own self and understand the world. My teacher would often describe it as an ocean – vast and infinite. There is always for more to discover and learn. There is endless room for growth and creativity. I am blessed to make my life out of Kathak dance and I hope I can share the joy and beauty of this art form with as many people as possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first stop for us would be the beach – either Santa Monica or Malibu. I absolutely love the beaches in Los Angeles. We might go for a walk or a bike ride and then stop in at one of the beach front hotels for a drink. Some of the museums in LA would be my next stop- perhaps LACMA, The Getty or the Natural History Museum. I absolutely love The Huntington – the gardens in particular take my breath away. I might stop by Melrose Avenue and the Fashion District for a little shopping. And for some of our night time activities I would check out a show at the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts or the Broad Stage. Although these are my initial go to’s, one of my favorite things to do is discover new places and spots in the city so I would definitely leave a little room in the itinerary for exploration and wandering!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am blessed to have an incredible amount of support in my life. My family has stood by me unconditionally even as they worried about and feared the choice I made to pursue a career in dance. My teacher believed in me, showed me what was possible and encouraged me every step of the way. My friends have been there to patiently listen to me complain, problem-solve, vent, boast and everything in between. My community has shown up time and again to support my dreams and visions. I would like to dedicate my shoutout to all of the people in my life that have generously given me their love and support and lifted me up.

Website: www.rinamehta.dance; www.leela.dance

Instagram: @leeladancecollective

Facebook: @leeladancecollective

Youtube: @leeladancecollective

Image Credits
Marissa Roseillier, Catherine Heath, Margo Moritz, Travis Broxton