Asha Bala

🪔 About

Asha Bala is a distinguished performer, scholar, and instructor of Bharatanatyam, a classical South Indian dance tradition. Born in Mumbai, India, in 1952, she began her Indian dance training at the age of three. She received her foundational training in the Thanjavur School of Bharatanatyam from the illustrious gurus of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir in Mumbai. At 14, she performed her Arangetram, a significant debut performance. Bala furthered her academic pursuits by earning an MFA in Bharatanatyam from Dr. Kanak Rele's Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya, which is affiliated with the University of Mumbai. After establishing her first school, Nritya Shala, in India, where she taught Bharatanatyam for ten years, Asha Bala moved to the United States. She pursued a Master of Arts degree in Modern Dance from American University in Washington D.C. Her graduate thesis explored how teaching Indian dance to those unfamiliar with the art form could foster a deeper understanding of diverse cultures. Bala has an extensive teaching career spanning over thirty years, including positions in high schools, universities, and community settings. She taught modern dance in the Cumberland County School system and at Fayetteville State University, as well as at the India Foundation. In 2006, she founded the Leela School of Dance in Cary, North Carolina, and serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the Leela Foundation. Through her school, she has educated over 500 North Carolinians about Bharatanatyam, aiming to make it a celebrated American dance form and connect students to their Indian roots. As a performer, Asha Bala has graced stages across India, Europe, Mexico, and the USA. She has performed for two Honorable Presidents of India and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. She is also a prolific choreographer, with several dance dramas to her credit, including "Agasthya," "Prahala Bhakthi Vijayam," "Nauka Charitram," "Two Faces of Shiva," "Aaru Padai Veedu," "Raja Rajeshwari," "Ganga – A River's Story," and "Navahavarna – Colors of Number Nine." Awards & Honours: Singar Mani (1969), NRI Excellence award (1993), Karnataka Kalashri award (1999), Citizen of the Year award (2000), Balasaraswati dance award (2005), Natya Saraswati award (2008), Drishti Nrityakala Puraskara (2011), North Carolina Heritage Award (2018), Austin Tamil Sangam Kalai Magudam Award (2019), Sambhrama Puraskara Award (2019), Agni Foundation Distinguished Artist Hall of Fame honor (2019).