Teaching Artist Profile

My name is Tatyana Popova. I am from the multicultural city of Almaty, Kazakhstan, located in the heart of Central Eurasia. Ethnically Russian, born in Kazakhstan and exposed to many different cultures and dance forms, music set my love and passion for the performing arts.  I started to dance when I was six years old. I remember vividly how as a small girl, I wrote a script for a performance and invited all the neighbors from our apartment building by posting a handwritten advertisement on each door. All the retired people always came to support me and few others perform, since the performance was held during working hours ;-). I have been a part of youth national Theater Company of Almaty, Kazakhstan and participated in many theatrical plays from age 13-17. 

Since taking my first dance steps, I continued my trajectory across the world, taking part in different companies, training in prestigious dance academies and earning degrees in world dance forms.  At the J. Elebekov Music and Dance Academy in Almaty, Kazakhstan, I strove to perfect my interpretations of Russian, Kazakh and World character dances & ballet. I  feel fortunate to have been given a scholarship by the ICCR (Indian Council for Culture Relationships)  to study Bharatanatyam for six years in Chennai, India, at the  University of Fine Arts, Kalakshetra . I have completed a diploma course at Kalapeetam, school of accompaniment for the dance (nattuvangam) at Chennai, India under a legendary Guru, Carnatic singer and music composer Bhagavatula Seetharama Sharma. I completed the certificate course for teaching classical ballet from the Bolshoi Ballet, and for classical Spanish dance and Flamenco from the Matilde Coral School of Dance in Seville, Spain.  

My passion to dance lead me to travel and live in different parts of the world. I have learned different languages, cultures, dances, rhythms and of course the beauty of the human spirit all around our globe. I have been fortunate to be part of many international companies, perform, produce and choreograph, act in movies and been part of many TV Shows in countries like US, India, Turkey, Russia, Europe and Kazakhstan. 

I have over 17 years of teaching experience. It’s joyous and beautiful to witness how your knowledge can guide young people to become skilled young artists.  I always tell my students: it is not important if dance will be your future profession; let dance be your passion, inspiration and healer in difficult moments.