New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Noted dancer Leela Samson was Tuesday appointed the chairperson of the Sangeet Natak Akademi for a term of five years, the Akademi said.

Samson is an eminent dancer and director of Kalakshetra, the famed institute of classical arts founded by late Rukmini Devi Arundale in Chennai. She has choreographed a number of group and solo compositions in Bharatnatyam to high critical and audience acclaim.

The danseuse has authored several articles as also a book ‘Rhythm in Joy’. She will continue to hold the post of director at the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, the Akademi said in a press release.

Leela Samson has received many honours, including the prestigious Padma Shri and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Her style of dancing is free of ostentatious gestures, serene and is characterised by an impeccable technique that blends geometrical precision with unfettered ease.

One of her major choreographic productions, ‘Spanda’, was performed to high critical audience acclaim and was held as a seminal work.