JOIN USAdancer, choreographer, teacher, yoga exponent, Nikolina Nikoleski has mastered the art of managing her time between performing, teaching and collaborating with various artistes in the creative exploration of dance, theatre and music. “I define myself as a human in constant search for perfection, ultimate realisation and beauty through dance,” says Nikolina.
A keen interest and love for the art is what drives her to achieve a level of satisfaction in myriad forms. She finds it difficult to say which one she enjoys the most. “Each form of art allows me to express in the most subtle yet deepest way. As a dancer, I enjoy the thrill of stage and feeling connected to the audience.
As a choreographer, I am most excited when I am working on a new movement, pattern, creating something that unites all my experiences, imagination and new reality. And as a teacher, it makes me happy to share with the new generation all the beauty of dance through self-discipline and hard work,” she says.
The seeds of art were sown early in her life and she knew what path to follow. “Since early childhood I knew I wanted to be a dancer, an artiste. My sensitivity, great emotional scale and imagination, creativity and dreams of a perfect world could only be expressed in dance,” she adds.
Art is more than just an entertainment for Nikolina. For her, it is a powerful tool to look within oneself and connect to others. Nikolina is one of those fortunate artistes who has tasted art in both its traditional as well contemporary forms. She was born in Zagreb, Croatia, and learnt contemporary dance in Germany at the prestigious dance academy of Pina Bausch — (Folkwang Hochschule Essen). She honed her art further in India, learning Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan Saroja Vaidyanathan.
Hence, her dance education is in western as well as in Indian form. She is proud to be performing classical ballet, contemporary dance and Bharatanatyam. She likes to keep each of the forms pure. While choreographing a new piece, contemporary can have the influence of Bharatanatyam, but it will still be contemporary, and vice versa.
Her inspiration has largely come from dance theatre, so she likes to present life in its various dimensions on the stage. “Every stage is versatile. Every audience connects with dance. If you are able to move your audience, make them feel and think, that’s your success.” She defines her role as a dancer in the words of her first idol, Pina Bausch: “I’m interested in what moves people, not how they move.”
Martha Graham is another one who inspired her in contemporary dance. She was hugely inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s life too. And other Indian legends, saints, artistes like Rukmani Devi of Kalakshetra, Mira Bai, Malavika Sarukkai, to name a few.
For Nikoleski, every moment created an inspiring story. “My life was filled with living dance,” she says. “As I was driving, in the trams or buses, observing people on the streets — everything was a constant performance, a premiere of a new piece in each minute.”
Looking at her performance chart, it won’t be wrong to say that though this versatile Bharatanatyam dancer is Croatian by birth, she moves to Indian beats better. She realised her love for Indian classical dance when, for the first time ever, she witnessed the performance of classical Indian dance while she was still a high school student of contemporary dance in Zagreb. She was spellbound. And that was the beginning of a journey that knew no stopping.
Nikolina’s journey has been wonderful, exciting, full of new experiences, meeting great people. But there are dreams that remain to be fulfilled. She has a desire to work with some great dancers and choreographers. She also wants to nurture her dance students as world class artistes who can join any international dance company.
“In days to come, I see myself deeply immersed in this most beautiful art form of all, performing on new stages and surrounded by many talented and wonderful students of mine.”
While she is busy with her daily practice, classes, teaching, rehearsing and creating new pieces, she also spends a lot of time watching performances, going to theatres and exhibitions, meeting artistes and new people, as these form her daily vitamins of inspiration.
“Living in Delhi has been the richest experience for me,” she says. “Residing in the country of the origin of art that I love so much made me completely open to grasping every aspect of Bharatanatyam, music and yoga. I have found my home away from home.”
On a parting note, Nikolina remarks: “It has been a wonderful journey so far; and it doesn’t stop ever, it gets more and more beautiful. To entertain and enlighten is the mantra I always strive by; and by God’s grace, it feels wonderful to have been able to traverse thus far!”
Indeed for Nikolina, dancing is life, and life is dancing — and she is not the one to miss a beat.