Svetlana Tulasi - Don't Let Anyone Stop You From Learning (Dancer, Actor, Choreographer from a mixed of Russian/ Indian origin)

Svetlana's first major breakthrough was upon her appearance with an Indian Classical Dance to a Bollywood song at the Ukraine's Got Talent TV show in 2013, that has caught attention of wide audiences and eventually went viral on the internet with over 10 million views till date.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I'm of mixed Russian & Indian origin, born and grew up in Moscow, Russia. I've always loved music, dance and movies and eventually made it all a big part of my career. Currently residing in Los Angeles, USA and working as a film/ TV actor and dancer/choreographer & dance educator.


2. When did you first decide you wanted to pursue Kathak and how did you start?

I started learning Kathak because of my parents who wanted me to learn about my Indian roots. Growing up in Moscow, I was mainly exposed to Russian and mainstream western culture, and at first I didn't really connect with Indian Classical arts whatsoever.

Only with time and with the right approach of my Guru Ekaterina Yurevna Seliviorstova (Katya ji) I fell in love with this beautiful dance form which has become a lifelong journey for me.


3. Who is your favorite dancer and why?

Kumar Sharma is by far my favorite Kathak dancer and I feel lucky to be able to call him a good friend and a dance partner. I learn a lot from him, we always have a naturally good chemistry when we dance together, and simply watching him perform makes me feel proud and happy because he inspires thousands if not millions of people every day to learn Kathak.

4. What are the career options in Kathak?

You can either become a dance educator, or a talent-based reality TV show choreographer, or a performer at festivals/ events, or form your own troupe and tour the world with your productions, or even make a social media channel with your dance videos - just find your own "why" you do it.


5. Can someone from another dance form learn Kathak?

Anyone can learn Kathak if they are willing to invest enough time, hard work and patience into it.

6. What piece of advice would you like to give to future and aspiring artists?

Never settle for average, don't rush for quick results, stick to a riyaaz (rehearsal) routine and learn from as many people as you'd like. Don't let anyone stop you from learning.


7. Is there a formal degree that one can obtain in Kathak?

Yes, there are multiple dance institutions in India, the most well known of which is Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak), where my Guru ji graduated from, or Prayag Sangeet Samiti University of Indian Classical Music & Dance in Allahabad, where I graduated from remotely.


8. Which is your favorite book and why?

I love non fiction books in general that teach you specific mindset and tools that you can use in your daily life to improve your business/ relationships/ performance.

One such book is "Power vs Force" by Dr David Hawkins - this book has literally changed my life, my world view, my understanding of why people and things are the way they are, and a lot of things about myself. Highly recommended for any curious minds out there.


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Svetlana Tulasi

Some of the other TV shows where Svetlana presented Kathak dance since then include: Russia's Got Talent, So You Think You Can Dance (Ukraine), Dance Plus (India) and many others. Svetlana is constantly touring the world with various TV show appearances, acts as a headliner for major Indian Dance festivals worldwide, conducts live dance shows and dance workshops.

She also works as a dance teacher, choreographer, model and a creative lead for music and dance videos both in Kathak and Bollywood dance styles. Svetlana starred as a lead in several music videos including Zee Music Company's "Hanju - Tears of Happiness" by Vanit Bakshi and "Trilokam" by world fusion music band Indialucia.

Svetlana recently appeared on the cover of the Indian Talent Magazine (October 2018), where she covers her journey as a performing artist. In 2018 Svetlana starred in a short documentary film "Why I Dance" covering her story of the real reasons why she chose to become an Indian Classical dancer.

Svetlana has collaborated with various well known performing artists & dance companies in the Kathak & Bollywood dance industry, with whom she has co-lead, choreographed and performed. One of the recent highlights has been performing at the Opening ceremony of ISSF World Cup 2019 in Delhi, India together with Kumar Sharma and Kathak Rockers.

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Interviewed by Pearlina Marie Rein K