At home in India

Nikolina Nikoleski captivated the Kochi crowd this weekend with a mesmerising Bharatanatyam recital at JT PAC. She is now set to bring her charm to the city on a permanent basis. The danseuse who teaches Contemporary, Bharatanatyam and Ballet in her dance studio Nikolina Nikoleski Dance Company in Delhi, is planning to set up a branch in Kochi soon.

“I moved from Croatia and set up my dance studio in Delhi because it brought me closer to India. I could easily relate to the Indian culture here and that was essential to truly understand the emotions that I expressed in Bharatanatyam. I settled in Delhi because it is more cosmopolitan and I could enjoy the Indian culture, and still find nooks and crannies where I could revel in the Western culture when I craved it. It was a perfect balance. However, each time I came down south, I found something lacking in my dance. This is why I decided to start a branch over here," she says.

She feels that Bharatanatyam, rather than being a passion or an interest, is a lifestyle.

“You have to understand the techniques and the culture it depicts, follow strict practice patterns, and follow a proper diet. It's all about discipline. So shifting to south India is going to help me understand these factors a little more. I chose Kerala for the branch as I could connect with the peaceful and calm atmosphere here more than Tamil Nadu. It is the beauty and culture of Kerala that attracts me," adds Nikolina.

Born to a gymnast mother, Nikolina was attracted to dance quite naturally.

“When I entered the dance studio, it was love at first sight. I was immediately taken in by it and knew that it was what I wanted to do. I learned Contemporary, Ballet and Folk during this time. It was watching the first Bharatanatyam performance at the age of thirteen that got me hooked to Indian classical dance. I'm also a huge fan of Odissi and am planning to learn the dance form," she says.

Learning Bharatanatyam was easy for Nikolina as she had mastered contemporary and ballet. But the tough part was expressing emotions. “In contemporary and ballet, the focus is on movement and fluidity. However, in Indian classical dances, expressions play a major role. Also, in western dance forms, there are a lot of lifts and piques and a lot of contact with your partner. However, in Indian dances we don't have all these lifts, and even when they are performed in groups, they are more like solos. There is almost no contact between two dancers. These are the things that make it stand out," she adds.

?Nikolina says she is so accustomed to Indian culture that sometimes she feels a bit out of place in her home country.

“Over here there is so much happening, a lot of people and places and space. Back in Croatia, I can go for a walk for over an hour and I'll perhaps, meet one person on the way. It's relaxing to go back home and enjoy the beautiful seaside and calmness of my country. However, of late, I go into a claustrophobic mode as my country is so small compared to India and it makes me crazy," she exclaims.

Another thing she truly enjoys is the variety of vegetarian food on offer in this country and says that she loves not having to explain herself for being a vegetarian.

However, Nikolina does miss her parents. “I left home at the young age of eighteen to pursue dance and ever since then my parents have been waiting and waiting, in the hope that I'll go back home and settle down there. But as of now, I am happy here and they are happy with my happiness," quips Nikolina.