Milana Severskaya

🪔 About

Milana Severskaya, born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, particularly recognized for her contributions to Mohiniyattam outside India, though she also received extensive training in Bharatanatyam. She holds a Bachelor of Economics, a Bachelor of Psychology, and a music diploma. Severskaya began her formal Indian classical dance training in 1982 and initiated her teaching career in 1987. In 1989, she underwent professional Bharatanatyam training in Moscow with Irina Elatentseva's Nirmala Dance Company. Furthering her Bharatanatyam studies, she trained in Madras (Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India, in 1994 with the renowned duo Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan. During this period, she also took classes in Southern Indian classical singing (Karnataka) and abhinaya (the art of emotional expressivity) with Shri Mati Arunathi Djaganatham, who, along with her other teachers, bestowed upon her the name Lasya Shakti Devi. Severskaya also received Bharatanatyam training under Svaminatha Pilai in Tamil Nadu. In 1995, she trained in India with Shyamala Surendran at the Dharani academy in Kerala. She also completed a full course in Mohiniyattam and became acquainted with Padmabhushan Kalanidi Narayan, a world-renowned master of abhinaya. In 1993, she established the Centre of Traditional Arts. She was actively involved with the Sarasvati Kshetram school in Saint Petersburg in 1997 and founded the Mysterial Art Theatre in 2000. Severskaya is credited with creating the first school for Mohiniyattam education outside India in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 1997, she received the blessing of the legendary Mohiniyattam guru Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma to continue the Mohiniyattam tradition. She also founded the Natya Theater, which features the choreography of Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma, and has released a film dedicated to her guru's memory.