Tatiana Popova

🪔 About

Tatyana Popova is a versatile dancer, teacher, and choreographer specializing in Bharatanatyam, Ballet, and Flamenco. Hailing from Almaty, Kazakhstan, she began her dance journey at the age of six. Her early training at the J. Elebekov Music and Dance Academy in Almaty encompassed Russian, Kazakh, and World character dances, as well as ballet. Popova furthered her classical ballet education, earning a teaching certificate from the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet. Her profound engagement with Indian classical dance began with a six-year scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to study Bharatanatyam at the University of Fine Arts, Kalakshetra, in Chennai, India. During her time at Kalakshetra, she trained under esteemed gurus such as Prof. A. Janardhanan and Smt. Jyolsana Menon. Additionally, Popova completed a diploma course in Nattuvangam, the art of conducting a Bharatanatyam performance, at Kalapeetam, under the tutelage of the legendary Carnatic singer and music composer Bhagavatula Seetharama Sharma. Popova's artistic exploration extended to Spanish dance and Flamenco, which she studied at the Matilde Coral School of Dance and the Manuel Betanzo Flamenco Academy in Seville, Spain. Her diverse training has allowed her to perform and choreograph for numerous international companies and productions across the US, India, Turkey, Russia, Europe, and Kazakhstan. With over 17 years of teaching experience, Tatyana Popova is a leading Bharatanatyam instructor at the Nritya Creations Academy of Dance, where she has taught for the past eight years. She is also a co-founder and producer of the "Garden of Dance Tribute to Smt. Rukmini Devi" in New York City, an event celebrating the legacy of the renowned Kalakshetra founder. Her students include Nirali Patel, Tejasvi, and Sahana, with some having completed their Arangetram under her guidance. Popova's teaching philosophy emphasizes dance as a passion, inspiration, and healer.