Elena Kynazeva

🪔 About

Elena Knyazeva is a prominent Odissi dancer and teacher based in Moscow, Russia, dedicated to the classical Indian dance form for over two decades. She commenced her Odissi training in 2003, completing a nine-year course at the J.N. Nehru Cultural Center (JNCC) at the Indian Embassy in Moscow under the tutelage of Vitalina Lobach. In 2008, she became a disciple of the internationally acclaimed Odissi exponent Sujata Mohapatra, undertaking annual intensive training at the Srjan Institute in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Knyazeva holds a Diploma in Classical Odissi dance from the Prayag Sangeet Samity University of Music and Dance in Allahabad, India, which grants her the right to teach. As a professional performer and educator, Elena Knyazeva is the artistic director of her own group, "Odissi Dance Project," and is also an artist and co-founder of the "Nritya Sabha" Foundation, an organization in Russia dedicated to Indian cultural heritage. Her stage career began in 2006, and she has been actively teaching Odissi since 2008. Knyazeva regularly performs as a solo artist and in collaborations at numerous national and international dance festivals across India and Russia. Her performances include significant events such as the National Festival of Odissi Dance and Music, the International Odissi Dance Festival, the Odissi International Festival in Bhubaneswar, the International Dance and Music Festival Cuttack Mahotsav, the Mukteshwar Festival, and the Pragjyoti International Dance Festival. She has also performed and choreographed pieces like Ashtapadi and Shivapadam, showcasing her versatility in various classical styles.