Sylvie Vojtková

🪔 About

Sylvie Vojtková is a Czech dancer specializing in Indian classical dance forms, Bharatanatyam and Kathak. Born in Prague, she has a diverse background with a Slovak mother and a Kurdish father from Aleppo, Syria. Vojtková's journey into Indian classical dance was inspired by her younger sister, Evin, who was already practicing Kathak and listening to Indian music. Initially captivated by a Bollywood music video featuring what she believed to be Bharatanatyam, she was drawn to the art form's beauty and resemblance to ballet. She pursued her passion by seeking out a guru, eventually finding a mentor in Rasabihari Devi Dasi. For Bharatanatyam, she is a disciple of Shrimati Rakita Raunatan from Bengaluru, India. Her training in Kathak began when she joined her sister's classes under the guidance of Ivanka and Anežka Hessová. Vojtková describes Bharatanatyam, a classical dance from South India, as more colorful and "earthy," performed closer to the ground. In contrast, she characterizes Kathak, a North Indian classical dance, by its emphasis on turns and a more "flying" quality, with intricate and rapid footwork. Both styles, she notes, demand significant technical precision and attention to detail, akin to geometry. As of an interview in August 2022, Vojtková expressed her intention to complete her Arangetram, a debut performance that signifies a dancer's formal completion of training and readiness to perform independently. She has performed publicly, including with the dance group NatyaAnjali at the "Asia Distant and Close" festival in Central Park, Pankrác, Prague, on September 2nd, and a solo performance at Yoga Day in Grébovka Park, Prague, on September 4th, both likely in 2022. She views dance as an essential part of her life, like oxygen, and hopes her performances evoke joy, bliss, or curiosity in the audience.