Α Sorbonne University French Literature graduate, choreographer, dancer, teacher of Indian classical dance Bharata Natyam and yoga, and dance therapist (GDTR Sr.), Leda Shantala is the founder of the Mandiram Centre, the Leda Shantala Dance Theatre and Shantom House of Culture.
Leda was born in Athens, where she studied classical ballet for 10 years. In France, alongside her university studies in literature, she pursued serious training in contemporary dance, ethnology, and humanistic psychology, specializing in body image symbolism of.
She lived in India for four consecutive years, where she trained in Bharata Natyam and yoga. She holds diplomas from India’s State Institute of Yoga and Medical Research "Kaivalya Dhama" the Indian dance academy "Bharata Kalanjali," and the expression school "Abhinaya Sudha."
Later, she visited other countries (Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Dahomey in Central Africa, Burkina Faso) to study the forms of physical expression and healing within these cultures. In Gabon, Africa, she spent two years with the shamanistic community "Mombwiri" of the Mitsogo tribe, studying group healing methods. She was the only Western researcher ever accepted to learn this ancient form of healing. She subsequently deepened her study of dance therapy under Dr. Marcia Leventhal, associate professor at New York University. In 2010, she returned to Africa to further her education, earning the local honorary title "Ntzogo Polo," which means "she who knows secrets and helps others."
Upon her return to Greece, she introduced Indian classical dance Bharata Natyam in 1985. She began performing, initially presenting purely Indian dance, but later she developed her own choreographic style, blending influences from Asian and African cultures with ancient Greek identity and 20th century dance codes. Simultaneously, she continued to enrich her knowledge with regular trips to India.
In 1987, she founded the Mandiram Cultural Centre, where she taught yoga, Bharata Natyam, and coordinated dance therapy groups for 16 years.
In the fall of 2003, she completed “Shantom House of Culture”, a culture and arts centre in Halandri, which hosts workshops, performances, and multicultural events of all kinds. Its goal is to serve as a hub for education, entertainment, connection, and communication in a framework that respects individuals and aims to develop their potential.
With her group, the Leda Shantala Dance Theater, (established in 1987), she has presented 14 productions:
Indian Dance Recital (΄85), Theseus (’87), Avatars (’88),
Gita Govinda (’89), Garlands (’90), Shakuntala (’91),
Choreographic Improvisations (’92), Eros Angelos (’93), The Light of Shadow (’94),
Dance Paths of East (’95), Night Sun (’96),
The Roof of the World (’98), The Roof of the World 2 (’00),
What a Coincidence! (2003).
In addition to these full productions, Leda and her students have participated in countless events and festivals, lecture-demonstrations, and the annual end-of-year events of Mandiram and later Shantom.
The Bharata Natyam Classical Indian Dance Academy, which Leda founded, is the only professional school of its kind in Greece, training students up to the professional level. To date, it has organized three arangetrams (graduation recitals) for students who have completed their studies.
In 2022, she founded the Leda Shantala Academy of Indian Classical Yoga, to train yoga instructors.