Hi I’m Leela
My journey began in the breathtaking Himalayan Mountains of India, in Kulu, and continued in the vibrant city of Copenhagen, Denmark, where I was raised by my English mother and Danish father, a blend of cultures that has shaped my unique perspective.
For the past two decades, I've called Amsterdam home, a city that has nurtured my passion for the performing arts. As a performer, voice artist, creator, and coach, I've thrived, driven by a relentless commitment to continuous learning, creating and growth.
With over two decades of experience, I've cultivated a diverse range of skills, from performing and directing physical theatre to voice improvisation, visual arts, making music, and writing.
My role as a teaching artist since 2013 at a.o. the Mime School at the Academy of Theatre and Dance in Amsterdam, Buitenkunst, HKU/ Theatre of Arts, Utrecht underscores my dedication to growth and development.
I hold a Bachelor's degree in theatre as phycical performer and theatre maker from The Mime School, Amsterdam, where since 2013, I've coached and taught the Briesen/physical voice improvisation technique - a unique approach that combines physical movement and vocal expression to create spontaneous and authentic performances.
My performances are not just about me; they're about direct connection with my audience. I captivate audiences with my expressive storytelling and innovative use of voice and body, whether it's a solo production, a performance directed for a specific group of performers, or an improvisation concert.
My direction and production of various performances, including co-created collective journeys and immersive performance experiences, foster an awareness of active engagement in the relationship between the audience, the artist, and the art. The Now and its magical fluidity come into focus.
My artistic pursuits extend beyond my own creations. I am a dedicated mentor and coach, guiding aspiring performers and creators in finding their unique voice and creative vision. Through my diverse range of workshops, online courses, and coaching sessions, under the name Voice as a Bridge, I've witnessed transformative experiences that have led clients to pursue their dreams, such as publishing an art book, using singing in coaching and healing work, changing profession, starting new artistic study, making performance, and more.
My strong co-creating leadership, organisational skills, and effective communication have been honed through experience through own creative ventures as well as teaching and mentoring experiences.
With great joy I continue to inspire and empower others to playful flow of creativity through my artistry and mentorship.
CV
Education
2006 - The Mime School (Academy for Theatre & Dance), teaching artist
2005 - The Mime School (Academy for Theatre & Dance), bachelor in theatre, performer & maker, Amsterdam (NL)
2001 - Modern Theatre Dance (MTD) (Academy for Theatre & Dance), the first year of bachelor education, Amsterdam (NL)
2000 - Dansevaerkstedet, fulltime preparatory modern dance education, Copenhagen (DK)
1999 - Sankt Annae Gymnasium, music high school, A-levels (biology as special subject) Copenhagen (DK)
Specialisation
Teaches Briesen / Voice improvisation at the Mime School since 2013.
Workshops/ training
2024-2021 Eagle Gates, palaeolithic shamanic teachings by Chief Dancing Thunder.
2020 - Shamanic year-training with Lise Schimmel (NL)
- Individual music/composing coaching with Channah van 't Riet
- Individual writing trajectory with Christiaan Lomans
2019-2014 - Zomerhuis/ Lichtenberger, sound orientated technique for voice by Ingrid Voermans. Workshops and individual sessions, The Hague (NL)
2019-2013 - Solo improvisation workshop by Andrew Morris, Amsterdam (NL)
2017-2015 - Wing Tjun Kung Fu, black belt training, including Tai Chi classes, Amsterdam (NL)
2017 - Workshop writing and individual coaching by Tjitske Janssen, Amsterdam (NL)
- Visionary Business School by Ryan Eliason
- PATEMPA–‘musical embodiment’ individual training by Bert Fermie, Amsterdam (NL)
2013 - Briesen/ voice improvisation individual training. Become the successor to Fons van Tienen at the Mime School, Amsterdam (NL)
2009 - Interdisciplinair Theatre, workshop by Henk Schut (Dogtroep), Amsterdam (NL)
2008 - ‘De Afleiding’, working site-specific by de PeerGroup/ Riet Mellink, Drenthe (NL)
2006 - ‘Moving and Drawing’ workshop by Rob List, t Veem Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
2005 - Djalma Primordial Science movement, workshop, Berlin (D)
Performances
2019 - Waterfalls & Wormholes Forever, a solo with many voices, studio presentations and performance at Music Dance Performance Festival 2019, OT301, Amsterdam (NL)
- Onschuld, directing performance with TTL at Buitenkunst, Randmeer, (NL)
2018 - The Horse Sessions #3, improvisation concert mime & music, Tivoli Vredenburg Utrecht (NL)
2018 - The Horse Sessions #2, Rood Noot, Utrecht (NL)
2015 - Adem – performance for six, on breath. UCK, Utrecht (NL)
2014 - How I became a Horse, Tafels #1 Rood Noot, Utrecht (NL)
2011 - Making Sense, music theatre performance for SOIL ensemble. Dutch tour
2011 - Lopen, lopen, lopen, site specific with 7 hearing and 7 deaf performers. Music Gary Shepherd. Noorderparkkamer, Amsterdam (NL)
2010 - Ieder zingt zijn eigen lied, with performers UCK, Utrecht (NL)
2008 - Impossible Human no 3, Trio double bass player and a furniture maker as musicians. Club NDSM/ Live Art zone #3 en Studio K, Amsterdam (NL)
- An impossible Human no 2, a duet with furniture maker/ musician Michalos Androutsopolous. Studio/K, Amsterdam (NL)
- An Impossible Human no 1, solo at Dansensdag, Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen (DK)
- And outside the birds are singing 2+ Concept, directing and performing with double bass player Marcello Windolph. 2turvenhoog. Schouwburg Almere (NL)
2007 - Tijdelijke Halte, with mime students and furniture maker. Site-specific. Over 't IJ Festival Amsterdam (NL)
2006 - Chasing Tomatoes, performers from UCK/ Performed at Paradiso, Amsterdam (NL)
2005 - How she became a Tree, graduation solo at the Mime School, Het Veem Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
2005-2001 - Postcard from Dreamland (a duet with a contrabass, performed at Sektano festival in Brno, Czech and Gasthuis (former Frascati), Amsterdam (NL)),
- performances made during the Mime School four-year education: Squashed Frogs don’t sing so loud, Crawl not to fall, East of the Sun and West of the Moon.
Music & Voice
2024 - Octopus Sessions, poetry & music improvisation with musician Marik de Koning. Hot Stuff, De Sering, Doors Open, Mime Fabriek.
2015 - Horse in Me, run, own songs with band, concert at De Kring, Amsterdam, Buitenkunst, Randmeer, Rood Noot, Utrecht, (NL)
2015 - Weolkan, singing with electronic musician Dennis van Tilburg, concert Huiskamer festival Zwolle, church in Schokland (a.o)
2014 - Horse in me, solo concerts, Nieuwe Anita, Amsterdam (NL), The Toilet Gallery/ NK, Berlin (D), Rood Noot, Utrecht (NL), Castle Federico, Montalbano Elicona, Sicily (IT)
2014 - Breath/ How I became a Horse, concert singing own lyrics and playing amplified winebox with guitarist Timon Koomen at Tafels #2 Rood Noot, Utrecht, (NL)
Performing Body
2020-2019 - Buku Buku, stories & music, Theaterstraat, Amsterdam Noord (NL)
2018 - Scream, by Matteo Bifulco, Academy for Theatre and Dance, Amsterdam (NL)
2016 - Paper Body by Nina Boas, DAS Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
2016 - Zonder Titel, Shakespeare montage with Wout de Boer and Peter Kolpa, Rood Noot, Utrecht (NL)
2015 - Binnen regent het niet 6+ by Anouke de Groot, object/ music theatre. PopArts Festival, Amsterdam (NL)
2011 - Alien en de Stille Planeet 6+, music theatre performance with Domestica/ Rotterdams Philharmonic orchestra. Music by Vincent van Warmerdam. Grigoriev festival + tour Rotterdam (NL)
2010 - Baas by Anouke de Groot. Site-specific performance. Bonte Hond production. Kraggenburg (NL)
2009 - Unpolitely Close, by Giulio d’Anna & Anouke de Groot, Academy for Theatre and Dance, Amsterdam (NL)
2008 - Knuffelbos 2+ by Cees Brandt, music theatre performance. Dutch tour. Silver Krekel award.
2005 - Eiland Orkater production, music theatre performance. With Ria Marks and Titus Tiel Groenestege, Jakop Ahlbom a.o. Music composition by Michel Banabila. End direction Ko v.d. Bosch. Dutch tour.
Exposition/ Visual art
2014-08 - Anonymous/ Necessary Failure, photo exhibition/ happening at Homeless Gallery/ Copenhagen Photo Festival, de Boterhal, Hoorn, het Veem Theater, Amsterdam (NL)
- SX. Schuijt&Stokholm. at Melkweg, Ada Breedveld Gallery, Nuit Blanche Amsterdam /Eddie the Eagle Shopping Center/ Magna Plaza Amsterdam (NL).
- Performance ‘work in progress’ presentation at Monsteren!, Theater Kikker, Utrecht (NL)
2012 - I used to Draw too, het Veem Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
2014 - Faces on Rolls, drawings on toilet rolls, online exhibition.
- Fear is a Shadow, photos and performance happening open research Boterhal, Hoorn (NL)
Collaborating
2020 - The Body Book – assisting artist Branka Zgonjanin at Come Together, Frascati, Amsterdam (NL)
2014-2008 - Necessary Failure - as performer and maker with Danish choreographer, dancer Kirstine Kyhl Andersen
- Anonymous – Photo exhibition at Homeless gallery Copenhagen Photo Festival, Copenhagen (DK) de Boterhal, Hoorn & het Veem Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
2013 - Simple Facts #4 residency at Laboratoriescenen, Copenhagen (DK)
2017-2016 - Weolkan Musical duet as singer and writer with composer/ electronic analogue musician Dennis Tilburg. Concerts at Huiskamer festival Zwolle, the church in Schokland, (NL).
- Schuijt&Stokholm/ SX. with dancer and visual artist/drawer Orfee Schuijt. Role as writer and performer in. Exhibition/ Happening/ Performance/ Book www.schuijt-stokholm.com
- Lightstories – with light artist Vinny Jones as performing body relating to light. Residence and research at Het Veem Theatre Amsterdam, OMSK, The Instituut Lichtontwerpen (NL)
Residency
2015-2014 - Breath/ Horse in me. Residency at Rood Noot, Utrecht (NL), Trasformatorio, Sicily (IT), Pixelache, Helsinki (FIN) & own 10-day journey to Iceland.
2013 - Simple Facts #4, residency at Laboratoriescenen, Copenhagen (DK)
Teaching & workshops
Currently: The Mime School, Academy of Theatre and Dance, Amsterdam (NL) (Voice Improvisation classes, individual coaching and the Mime Orientation Course. )
- Guest teacher at Artez, Arnhem, HKU, Musicians 3.0 & Theatre and Education, Utrecht, Fontys Dance and Circus, Tilburg,
- KIDD Bontehond, Almere.
- Buitenkunst, the Netherlands.
Own workshops & online courses/challenges
2020- 2017 - Voice as a Bridge workshop. Voice, body and imagination connected.
- Voice Trajectory – 6–month program.
- Forest Retreat
- Waterfall of Voices, Forest of Voices, Rainbow of Voices
- Season transition – Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer Voice
Coaching & mentoring
2021- Coaching in voice/ performing and making
- The lost art of Grief by Marie Goeminne, 2019
- Investigation of Love by Lilia Luganskaia 2019
- Bodine Sutorius, Moriah Dekker, Sue Ann Bel, Martijn Schier, Rob Smorenberg, Inez Almeida, Mher Bruytan; a.o. at The Mime School
- Jasper van der Pijl, Artez acting student
- Marieke Polderdijk, Artez writing student
- Students at Musicians 3.0 and Theatre and Education, HKU, Utrecht, (NL)
Talks
2020 - The Voice of my Body, Interview for the Body Book by Branka Zgonjanin during Come Together, Frascati, Amsterdam (NL)
2019 - The intuitive Voice, workshop/ talk at World is Constantly Touching, Perdu, Amsterdam (NL)
2019 - The Voice as a Bridge, at BAU meeting, t Veem Theatre, Amsterdam (NL)
Ceremony
2020 I see you are not there, performed song (‘All I’) written for the opening of the exhibition by Sanne Kabalt at Beautiful Distress House, NDSM, Amsterdam (NL)
2014 Performed song written for wedding of Mairi & Arjan Buisman, Amsterdam (NL)
2013 Performed poem written for the wedding of Orfee Schuijt & Kim Myhr at Uzes, (Fr)
2010 Performed poem written for wedding of Kirstine Kyhl Andersen & Niels Bjerg, Lemvig (DK)
Performed graduation speeches for Martijn Schier, Joanna Krueger, Caroline Sprott.