In June 2026, Leela Samson and Bhavajan Kumar led a Dance Residency at the ITC. The week culminated in their performance of Leela’s choreography, ‘The Call of the Beloved’, for a wider audience in Besant Hall.
In 1971, Rukmini Devi visited the Centre with the Kalakshetra dance troupe during its European tour. The group stayed for several days and also gave a performance in Besant Hall. Leela Samson took part in the tour as a young dancer and returned to the Centre more than 50 years later. You can spot her on the photo of the three girls before Besant Hall; she is standing to the right.
Leela has devoted her life to Bharatanatyam. She has written a biography of Rukmini Devi and served as Director of Kalakshetra. As a dancer and choreographer, she is one of the foremost representatives and transmitters of Rukmini Devi’s artistic lineage.
In one of the recent photographs, she is shown arriving and inspecting the stage in Besant Hall. The stage exists thanks to Rukmini Devi, who was Head of the ITC when the hall was built and specifically requested its inclusion.
Below are some pictures of Rukmini dancing with the Kalakshetra troupe in Besant Hall.
