Katya Tosheva greets her audience at Vennalas Udyan Convention Centre with a namaskaar. The Bulgarian then proceeds to deliver a captivating Kathak performance.

Ms. Tosheva, who was in the city to perform Kathak and Bharatanatyam, spoke to The Hindu about quitting her engineering job and following her dream – of studying Indian classical dance. Her tryst with Indian culture began when she learnt yoga from her friend, she says.

After working for 13 years as an engineer, I realised that I was not happy with my job. My pocket was full, but not my soul.

Her family encouraged her to follow her heart and live her dream, she adds. Her husband, Rosen Tosheva, also turned to Indian art for solace: he is a tabla artiste now.

Ms. Tosheva has mastered Kathak and Bharatanatyam and is currently learning Odissi.

Understanding herself

Learning three dance forms that differ even in their smallest details has been no cakewalk; but dance has helped her understand herself better, she says.

It has taught me to express different emotions. Dancing has also kept me in good shape and made me more flexible. But it is more about the fulfilment of the soul than anything else.

Ms. Tosheva is passionate about promoting Indian dance forms in Bulgaria. Apart from conducting dance classes for Bulgarians, she also gives public performances on days of Indian festivals such as Diwali and Vishu.

Her teams read out the lyrics and translate the meaning so that the local audience understands the meaning of the performance. Last year, she also performed for the Indian President at Sofia, Bulgarias capital.

She hopes to collaborate with Indian and Bulgarian artistes and connect Indian dance with its Bulgarian counterpart.

But to make that possible, I will have to learn more, she says. That would bring her back to India, and Kerala, her favourite part of India.