Leya Oommen

🪔 About

Leya Oommen is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer based in Canada, recognized for her performances across North America and India. She commenced her training in Bharatanatyam at the age of four, under the guidance of Smt. Senthil Selvi Sureswaran at the Sri Abiramy Dance Academy. Oommen has showcased her talent through numerous solo and group performances in Canada, the United States, and India. Her notable solo margam performances include those at prestigious venues such as the Narada Gana Sabha and Brahma Gana Sabha in Chennai, India, as well as at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in the US, the CAN-AM Festival, Bharathi Kala Manram Toronto, and SICA in Ottawa, Canada. She has also been an integral part of various Bharatanatyam dance productions, including those at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, IFSAAD Festival, and in San Diego. Oommen has received significant recognition for her dance prowess, including first prizes at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in the US and the New Jersey Natya Sangamam. In 2020, she was selected as an IndianRaga Dance Fellow, actively collaborating on fellowship productions. Her contributions to the dance community were further acknowledged in 2022 when she was awarded Dance Ontario's Jacque Foesier Youth Dance Award, an honor that recognizes exceptional young dancers for their excellence and contributions to the dance community. Beyond Bharatanatyam, Leya Oommen is also trained in Carnatic vocals under Sri Arun Gopinath and learns Carnatic violin under Sri Jay Nair, in addition to playing the western violin. Oommen actively contributes to her dance academy by assisting her guru in teaching classes, demonstrating her understanding of the intricacies of rhythm and facial expressions in Bharatanatyam. She is currently a student at WCI in Waterloo, Canada. Awards & Honours: 1st prize at Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, 1st prize at New Jersey Natya Sangamam, IndianRaga Dance Fellow (2020), Jacque Foesier Youth Dance Award (2022).