Victoriya Burenkova

🪔 About

Victoriya Burenkova, known by her stage name Vijaya Bai, is a dedicated Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher based in Kyiv, Ukraine. She is a disciple of Ganna Smirnova Rajhans, a prominent exponent of Bharatanatyam in Eastern Europe and the founder of the Nakshatra Indian Dance Theatre in Kyiv. Burenkova's journey into Indian classical dance began at the age of seven, alongside her sister, under the tutelage of Ganna Smirnova, with strong encouragement from her parents who fostered an interest in Indian culture. Victoriya Burenkova has committed her life to Bharatanatyam, structuring her schedule and goals around the art form, even extending to crafting dance uniforms and costumes. She has been actively involved in teaching at the Nakshatra Indian Dance Theatre since 2012. Following Ganna Smirnova's relocation to the UK due to the Russia-Ukraine war, Victoriya Burenkova took over the management of Nakshatra in 2023, ensuring its continued functioning and promotion of Indian art and culture in Ukraine. Beyond teaching and performing, Burenkova is also an author of several teaching brochures on Indian classical dance and is engaged in translating the ancient treatise "Natya Shastra" in collaboration with Ukrainian Sanskritologist I.K. Rosenbeyom. Her efforts to promote Bharatanatyam in Ukraine, particularly amidst challenging circumstances, have been highlighted in media, including an article in The Global Indian in November 2023. The Nakshatra Indian Dance Theatre, under her leadership, continues to offer classes and stage dance dramas, often incorporating Ukrainian language to make the art form accessible to local audiences.