Svetlana Yanina — Bharatanatyam Arangetram
07.06.2025 | 18:00 | Willa Teātris, Riga
About Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms in the world, rooted in South Indian temple traditions. It blends rhythm, poetry, and expressive power. This dance speaks to the audience through the eyes, hands, and heart — it is movement, storytelling, and meditation all at once.
Arangetram is a special performance format in which the dancer journeys through the entire classical repertoire in one evening, revealing a spectrum of emotions and symbolic meaning.
About the dancer
Svetlana Yanina has been one of the leading dancers at the Bharata studio for over a decade. She performs regularly at concerts and festivals, both as a soloist and with ensemble groups. She is also actively involved in choreographing group compositions and is part of the creative core shaping the studio’s artistic vision.
In 2024, Svetlana performed on Latvian television’s “Ir Talants” as part of a Bharata studio trio, receiving high praise from the jury.
Svetlana began studying Bharatanatyam in 2005 at the Bharata studio under the guidance of Larisa Podskocaja. Her teachers include Pille Roosi — a disciple of the legendary Chitra Vishveshvaran — and Dmitry Zmeev, a dancer and teacher trained under the renowned Leela Samson, one of the most respected figures in Bharatanatyam and former director of the prestigious Kalakshetra academy.
These teachers greatly shaped Svetlana’s deep understanding of the Bharatanatyam tradition and its spiritual expression.
Svetlana has also enriched her artistry through masterclasses with internationally renowned performers and teachers: Pratibha Sathyavannan, Usha Raghavan, Janaki Rangarajan, Parshwanath Upadhye, Bala Devi Chandrashekar, Sangeeta Isvaran, Apoorva Jayaraman, Priyadarsini Govind, Gautam Marathe, and Gaura Nataraj.
Their influence can be seen in her refined technique, emotive abhinaya, and her deep respect for ancient traditions — the foundation of her inspiration and artistic vision.
What to expect
The program will include both meditative and dynamic pieces. Each dance will be introduced with a brief explanation of its narrative and symbolism.
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours, including a 15–20 minute intermission.
The concert will be accompanied by recorded music.
Recommended for audiences aged 12 and above.