Ganna Smirnova

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}

'''Ganna Smirnova''' (from [[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]]) is a Ukrainian professional dance exponent and research scholar of [[Bharatanatyam]] (form of [[Indian classical dance]]), and a disciple of Guru Smt Jayalakshmi Eshwar.{{cite web|url=http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Entertainment&contentId=6935259&programId=1073754907&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL|title=Tripping on karma: DANCE: Ganna Smirnova, Bharatanatyam dancer from Kyiv, is a devotee of Nataraja|publisher= [[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|accessdate=13 April 2010}} She is also the founder and the Art Director of Indian Theater Nakshatra in [[Kyiv]]. She is one of the leading exponent of Indian classical dance "Bharatanatyam" in the eastern Europe and performs and teaches extensively.

'''Ganna Smirnova''' (from [[Kyiv]], [[Ukraine]]) is a Ukrainian professional dance exponent and research scholar of [[Bharatanatyam]] (form of [[Indian classical dance]]), and a disciple of Guru Smt Jayalakshmi Eshwar.{{cite web|url=http://week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/theWeekContent.do?sectionName=Entertainment&contentId=6935259&programId=1073754907&pageTypeId=1073754893&contentType=EDITORIAL|title=Tripping on karma: DANCE: Ganna Smirnova, Bharatanatyam dancer from Kyiv, is a devotee of Nataraja|publisher= [[The Week (Indian magazine)|The Week]]|accessdate=13 April 2010}} She is also the founder and the Art Director of Indian Theater Nakshatra in [[Kyiv]]. She is one of the leading exponent of Indian classical dance "Bharatanatyam" in the eastern Europe and performs and teaches extensively.

==Early life and training==

==Early life and training==

Since childhood, Ganna has been studying ballet and the Ukrainian national dance under the direction of the well-known dancer, soloist ensemble of [[Virsky]] of Lilya Melnichenok. As a student she studied eastern philosophy and practiced yoga, Tai-zi-chuan and Shigun. She is the successful Graduate of Jurisprudence from her alma mater Tarasa Shevchenko National University in her academic life and has gone on to defend her PhD from the same university.

Since childhood, Ganna has been studying ballet and the Ukrainian national dance under the direction of the well-known dancer, soloist ensemble of [[Virsky]] of Lilya Melnichenok. As a student she studied eastern philosophy and practiced yoga, Tai-zi-chuan and Shigun. She is the successful Graduate of Jurisprudence from her alma mater Tarasa Shevchenko National University in her academic life and has gone on to defend her PhD from the same university.

In 1998, Ganna received the scholarship under ([[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]]) of India to study Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam in New Delhi,[http://www.iccrindia.org/alumniukraine.htm Alumni data bank of Ukrainian students, who received ICCR scholarships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220160457/http://www.iccrindia.org/alumniukraine.htm |date=20 February 2010 }} [[ICCR]] website. while in India she received positive reviews from legendary dance critic Subuddu, Mrs. Leela Venkatraman and Dr Sunil Kothari.

In 1998, Ganna received the scholarship under ([[Indian Council for Cultural Relations]]) of India to study Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam in New Delhi,[http://www.iccrindia.org/alumniukraine.htm Alumni data bank of Ukrainian students, who received ICCR scholarships] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100220160457/http://www.iccrindia.org/alumniukraine.htm |date=20 February 2010 }} [[ICCR]] website. while in India she received positive reviews from legendary dance critic Subuddu, Mrs. Leela Venkatraman and Dr Sunil Kothari.

For the five years that she was in India (1998–2003), she had the intensive learning of Bharatanatyam and practiced the Carnatic Vocal music under Guru Vasantha Sundaram and Chhau under Guru Janmey jai Sai Babu. Besides she did get introductory knowledge of [[Kuchipudi]] under Guru Seetha Naagjyothi in Delhi Tamil Sangam for a couple of years. Yet Bharatnatyam remained her first and foremost passion and she was always very active with all the creative activities of her Guru while learning under her and took part in ballet compositions of her guru, and the lectures and demonstrations, and also regularly performed solo concerts in Delhi and other cities of India.

For the five years that she was in India (1998–2003), she had the intensive learning of Bharatanatyam and practiced the Carnatic Vocal music under Guru Vasantha Sundaram and Chhau under Guru Janmey jai Sai Babu. Besides she did get introductory knowledge of [[Kuchipudi]] under Guru Seetha Naagjyothi in Delhi Tamil Sangam for a couple of years. Yet Bharatnatyam remained her first and foremost passion and she was always very active with all the creative activities of her Guru while learning under her and took part in ballet compositions of her guru, and the lectures and demonstrations, and also regularly performed solo concerts in Delhi and other cities of India.

In the year 2009, the great maestro of Indian classical music [[Thumbnail for Hariprasad Chaurasia

In the year 2009, the great maestro of Indian classical music [[Thumbnail for Hariprasad Chaurasia

Hariprasad Chaurasia|Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia]] was invited on the celebration of the traditional Indian new year the program was so aptly named "The wind supreme". The event was organized in the [[National Philharmonic of Ukraine|National Philharmonic Hall in Kyiv]].

Hariprasad Chaurasia|Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia]] was invited on the celebration of the traditional Indian new year the program was so aptly named "The wind supreme". The event was organized in the [[National Philharmonic of Ukraine|National Philharmonic Hall in Kyiv]].

In December 2009, the musician and master of the [[Sarod]], Ustad [[Amjad Ali Khan]] visited to Kyiv. With the support from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Embassy of India in Ukraine, Ustad performed at the Ganna's Nakshatra Theatre on 8 December. Before that, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons visited the university where they were facilitated by the head of the University and where Ustad was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]], being the very first Asian musician to receive such a distinction.

In December 2009, the musician and master of the [[Sarod]], Ustad [[Amjad Ali Khan]] visited to Kyiv. With the support from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Embassy of India in Ukraine, Ustad performed at the Ganna's Nakshatra Theatre on 8 December. Before that, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his sons visited the university where they were facilitated by the head of the University and where Ustad was awarded the [[Medal of Honor]], being the very first Asian musician to receive such a distinction.

In March 2010, Ganna embarked on her performing tour to India and had sterling performances in the India International Center 3 March, Azad Bhawan of ICCR on 5 March and on the celebration of the [[International Women's Day|International Women's day]] on 8 and 9 March in Jawaharlal Nehru University. She went on to perform in Natyanjali festival the Chidambaram dance festival in the pious Maha Shivarathri day on 13 March in the world-famous Natraja Thillai temple, in Kumbhakonam on 15 March, and in the Brihadiswarar temple on 17 March 2010 on the celebration of the 1000 years of the temple establishment, a rare honor for a European artiste to perform in such places. In the month of August 2010 she was invited by the Indian Cultural Center of Moscow for the presentation of her book "Indian temple dances – Tradition, Philosophy and legends" besides the recitals at the overflowing auditorium. The event was inaugurated by the Deputy head of Indian Mission in Russia at that time. Considering her work in past Ganna has been honored by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and her dance ensemble Nakshatra has been awarded as the national ensemble category.

In March 2010, Ganna embarked on her performing tour to India and had sterling performances in the India International Center 3 March, Azad Bhawan of ICCR on 5 March and on the celebration of the [[International Women's Day|International Women's day]] on 8 and 9 March in Jawaharlal Nehru University. She went on to perform in Natyanjali festival the Chidambaram dance festival in the pious Maha Shivarathri day on 13 March in the world-famous Natraja Thillai temple, in Kumbhakonam on 15 March, and in the Brihadiswarar temple on 17 March 2010 on the celebration of the 1000 years of the temple establishment, a rare honor for a European artiste to perform in such places. In the month of August 2010 she was invited by the Indian Cultural Center of Moscow for the presentation of her book "Indian temple dances – Tradition, Philosophy and legends" besides the recitals at the overflowing auditorium. The event was inaugurated by the Deputy head of Indian Mission in Russia at that time. Considering her work in past Ganna has been honored by the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and her dance ensemble Nakshatra has been awarded as the national ensemble category.

===Performances===

===Performances===

She has been invited to perform in the major leading festivals of India and abroad and has done both her Guru and her country proud by receiving outstanding reviews both from the audience as well as from the critics in ample measure. In India she has practically criss-crossed the entire country and has performed from the western India (Ahmadabad) to eastern India (Imphal) and from the northern city of Chandigarh to Southern city of Pondicherry.

She has been invited to perform in the major leading festivals of India and abroad and has done both her Guru and her country proud by receiving outstanding reviews both from the audience as well as from the critics in ample measure. In India she has practically criss-crossed the entire country and has performed from the western India (Ahmadabad) to eastern India (Imphal) and from the northern city of Chandigarh to Southern city of Pondicherry.

Ganna Smirnova has participated in the leading dance festivals of India, such as Mahabalipuram dance festival, Modhera Dance Festival, Taj Mahotsava, Rajgir Dance Festival, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Natyanjali dance Festival in Chidambaram and Thanjavur, Bharath Kalachar dance festival, Dasyam festival amongst others.

Ganna Smirnova has participated in the leading dance festivals of India, such as Mahabalipuram dance festival, Modhera Dance Festival, Taj Mahotsava, Rajgir Dance Festival, Uday Shankar Dance Festival, Natyanjali dance Festival in Chidambaram and Thanjavur, Bharath Kalachar dance festival, Dasyam festival amongst others.

* http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/lj_nakshatra_dance/post88215169/

* http://www.liveinternet.ru/community/lj_nakshatra_dance/post88215169/

* http://vedavrata.livejournal.com/665791.html#comments

* http://vedavrata.livejournal.com/665791.html#comments

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