A flight between Costa Rica and New Jersey brought together Leela Kumar and Ridvan Idara around their shared passion: art. Two summers ago, Leela, then a 14-year-old, who is of Indian descent, born in Manhattan, was working on a musical she had created, focused on chords, scenes, and the cast. Seated next to each other on the airplane, Ridvan couldn’t help but notice Leela working feverishly on her computer, so she tapped Leela on the shoulder and introduced herself as the director and founder of New Era Creative Space (NECS). When Leela explained what she was working on, Ridvan was impressed by her talent and dedication.
The two talked briefly until reaching Newark, then said goodbye. Subsequently, the young woman emailed the finished musical to Ridvan. That brief encounter has since become a strong connection between two talented women. What started as a casual meeting on a plane will now materialize on the Hudson Valley MOCA stage in Peekskill with the premiere of Dancing Through a Dream. The production will be presented in three performances: Saturday, July 26, at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 27, at 3 p.m.
“Fast-forward to today, and thanks to Ridvan’s generosity and belief in my work, my musical is being produced as a summer intensive at the Hudson Valley MOCA,” the 16-year-old told Peekskill Herald. Ridvan was impressed not only by Leela’s creative discipline but also by the depth of her storytelling. “The story itself deeply moved me, especially knowing that she was drawing from her personal experience,” explained Ridvan.
The musical tells the story of Ava, a young composer who, despite her fears, dares to perform a song in front of her classmates. The reaction from the school audience is not what she expected. “The story explores not only her fear of judgment but also how other people’s insecurities and struggles can influence how they react to vulnerability,” explained Leela, who has been interested in music since childhood and listened to piano notes in her grandparents’ home.
The teenager’s project began during the summer following her freshman year of high school when Leela participated in the Theatrical Development Fund (TDF) Playwrights Workshop in New York. There, she presented an initial reading with Off-Broadway actors. “It was the first time seeing it exist outside of my own head—and it lit something in me to see the audience respond, even cry to it,” she recalled.
After that first impulse, she converted her closet into a small recording studio. “Clothes make surprisingly good soundproofing,” she mentioned. From there, she produced the instrumental tracks and began working with her classmates from the performing arts program at her school in Monmouth County, New Jersey. “I did not expect much—but students signed up, auditioned, and committed,” she said.
However, the home recordings and school direction were only a step. Today, the full production is presented under the artistic direction of Kate Hales and choreography by Patricia Johnson at the creative space in Peekskill. “We have a fantastic team… and the students in the production have also been remarkable,” detailed Ridvan.
The show’s music combines diverse influences: Ravel, Ingrid Michaelson, nighttime rock, and 90s melodies that, according to Leela, brighten her mornings. “That back-and-forth really shaped the way I compose now,” she said regarding her transition between pop and classical repertoire.
The main song, Dancing Through a Dream, was one of the first pieces written for the script. “It is about moving from the shadows into the spotlight and finding the courage to share your voice,” she explained. The piece was orchestrated at the Juilliard Composition Intensive and premiered by musicians from Lincoln Center.
In addition to this achievement, Leela was one of eight national winners of the young composers’ award. “It was absolutely surreal,” she added about her participation in Winners Weekend in New York City. (See video)
For her, balancing art with school requires daily decisions. “Balance is not about doing everything all the time—it is about choosing where your energy goes, moment by moment,” she stated.
New Era Creative Space, for its part, continues to bet on providing platforms for emerging voices. “It is crucial to start with our young people. It is imperative that communities support young creatives,” emphasized Ridvan.
Dancing Through a Dream will be presented as part of a summer intensive program. It is not a school production but a community effort with young talent, professional support, and a story rooted in lived experience. “That moment when Ava shares her song is really a metaphor for anything we dare to offer the world,” concluded Leela.
