About Us

Chitraleka Dance Company (CDC) was formed in 1990 (formerly Chitraleka & Company), led by Chitraleka Bolar, Artistic Director. Her highly successful UK dance career began in the West Midlands (1979), Chitraleka remaining the central catalyst of CDC, extending her skills as a classical dancer, teacher and workshop leader across education, community and theatre contexts.

Since 1979, she has not only established herself as a leading choreographer directing major productions with artists from the UK and India, but has concurrently focused attention on the next generation through a thriving Youth Group. A distinct enhancement of the group’s training is now being restructured to give it the framework of an academy.

Mission Statement

Chitraleka Dance Company works to develop access to, and a wide audience for, the beautiful   Indian classical dance form, Bharatanatyam.  We achieve this as a dance-in-education company, creating performance, developing the art form and its practitioners, and sharing and enhancing the experience of South Asian dance through working in a wide range of educational settings

The Team

Board Directors
Dr Elspeth Insch OBE – Chair
Piali Ray OBE
Sanat Shelat
Prashant Singh

Staff
Chitraleka Bolar – Artistic Director
Sharad Bolar – Operational Director
Shamaila Ahmed – General Manager
Liz Bayley – Education Co-ordinator
Jyoti Lata Parwana - Dance Associate

Subhash Viman - Dance Associate