Irina Kushelevich
Bharatanatyam in Lithuania
“Dance, for me, is a kind of personal realization. When you can explore your own thoughts and feelings, you become aware of yourself and that is connected with inner perfection. I feel that, maybe from some kind of past life, dance has came to me again…I find myself in dance.”
Irina Kushelevich is a Lithuanian Bharatanatyam dancer and Aikido master blending Eastern European and Indian classical traditions. With a foundation in ballet and Aikido, she discovered Bharatanatyam at 20, training under acclaimed guru Rajyashree Ramesh.
Irina’s performances and choreography integrate elements of Aikido and European culture, creating unique fusion pieces that connect deeply with diverse audiences. She debuted her arangetram at Chennai’s Music Academy and now leads a branch of her guru’s dance academy in Lithuania, inspiring a new generation of Bharatanatyam dancers while expanding the art’s global reach.
Sooraj’s choreography reflects his unique perspective, interweaving the precision of classical technique with the fluidity of contemporary movement. Now based in Belgium, he works as a freelance dancer, performing on international stages and drawing inspiration from his rich mosaic of experiences. For Sooraj, dance is not only a celebration of his roots but a medium for exploring identity and transcending artistic limitations.
