Dance is my spiritual practice. I reach out to dance whenever I face a tough moment in life. I’ve been doing dance for a very long time. Dance for me, has a much more pure significance. The maturity of dance comes from it. My teacher used to ask me: «When will you become a mature dancer?» And I was wondering what a «mature dancer» meant. She used to say «Life experience will make you a mature dancer.» Now I understand. Once you become a mother your dance changes, when you grow and go through different experiences in life your dance changes. So, the maturity of life reflects on the maturity of dance.
– Sanatani Rombola
What role does your teacher play in your life?
When I started studying with Sujata Mohapatra , I have really taken her as my Guru. She was inspiring me not only in dance but also in my spiritual and material life, in every aspect. When I was going through my divorce she was always there for me. She’s been a very strong role model. Only recently that has changed because she’s a very busy person now. I’m very happy I got to meet her before that. I can have that image of her for the rest of my life.
At the moment we send each other emails or fb messages from time to time but we are not good at such communication. I prefer face-to-face. Last year I organized a workshop for her and we were together for 5-6 days and it seemed as if we never separated. Got back to dance together – just like before. And even now when she rises her eyebrow I already know what she means. It’s more of a soul connection, much more than getting in touch or seeing each other.
Can all the people understand the yoga philosophy? What are the possible ways of coming closer to it?
Everyone’s mentality is different. But yoga is such a vast subject that everyone can get whatever they want. People coming to my work at «Krishna village», are either searching for something or just following a trend. It all depends on how deep you want to go: you can stay on a physical level or go to the mental or the spiritual ones.
If a person has a natural inclination to learn he will find so much about yoga. If you go to India no one is going to teach you «Surya Namaskar» – there is so much more to it. There is a whole philosophy behind it, there is Ayurveda behind it.
You’ve changed many places of residence –which one was the most comfortable for you? Is there a single place on Earth you always feel good in?
For the last 6-7 years I was feeling like a “fish out of water” – as if I didn’t fit in this world. The teenage years I spent in India fitted perfectly for that time – to be protected by the society, to learn everything, to be a strong person. Then I went to England, right now I’m in Australia and I feel that this is the place I would like to spend the rest of my life in but who knows what will happen – maybe in 10 years I will be in Hawaii.
Vegetarianism – is it a lifestyle, faith or philosophy for you?
I was born vegetarian. My daughter was born vegetarian too. And she’s 5 years old now. She sees an animal and wonders «Why do people eat animals? Why do they kill them?” For us it’s an ethical issue than anything else. There should be respect for all living beings. It’s common sense and integral part of my life.
Which world events and happenings are important for you? What are you following on social media?
Women rights. That’s very dear to me.
If we consider human life as a whole, what is the most important – family, art, love? Why?
I notice with people around me that the happiest are those, who pursue their passion. You see a person is shining from within. And that person gives more to his family and society. So, passion is above all.
What are you passionate about?
My dance. It takes me through life. Dance never leaves me – even though I had my hard times with it as well it keeps on coming back.
Which rules are you following to feel good? Where doo you draw your energy from?
I try to dance regularly and do at least once a day yoga in the morning and meditation in the evening, some pranayama as well. Yoga and dance keep me sane.
What are your plans for the future – connected to professional and family life?
My life dream (and New Year’s resolution) is that I want to start my own dance school. I’m getting everything ready now. Soon social media will be bombarded with my dance school! My idea is to have a dance school that connects all forms of art in spirituality – so from spiritual Indian forms of art (mridanga, tabla, dance, yoga, Ayurveda) to any other form of art that can be connected to spirituality, so, if you want to teach tango and connect it to the divinity – welcome.
Last question: tradition or innovation?
Tradition or innovation? In between. Take the best of both. I don’t like to go too far away from the tradition because otherwise if generations after generations take something away from the tradition, it will disappear. Keep the tradition strong and alive but use a different language or approach for the modern world. My teacher is all about fighting for the tradition. She won’t change 1 cm of movement because generations later the movement might not be the same. I know that the evolution is also important but at the same time what has been created is so vast that you have to learn that first before creating something new. At the same time shouldn’t be stagnant. We want to be creative. So, don’t disrespect the tradition and put some of your creative energy in it to make something innovative.
What role does Ayurveda play in your life?
When I was living in India and I was 20 I studied Ayurveda and Indian acupuncture – that was my first job. After that I went to England and I used to teach yoga, ayurvedic lifestyle and acupuncture there. We (me and my Australian friend) were the first westerners to learn these subjects. We used to take a shot of wheatgrass in the morning and stand on spikes mat for half an hour. Then we would do some chakra exercises, give each other acupressure treatments. And we would explore Ayurveda. Ayurveda is so vast – there’s a whole college dedicated solely to Ayurveda in Puri. You only study Ayurveda there, nothing else. So, I never went too deep into Ayurveda but I learned the basics – everybody does when living in India. For example, my Indian mother, who doesn’t even know how to read and write, would give me a little ball of turmeric and honey with every change of season. This knowledge is passed down through generations: every spring and autumn take a ball of honey and turmeric. And you know what, I never got sick! That’s the “behind the scenes” role Ayurveda played in my life.
Do you have regular consultations with astrologers?
Yes, before coming to Australia, I did consult a couple of astrologers. But I only contact an astrologer after having taken my own decision. So, that time I already had my tickets booked and I had already decided I was going, so only after that I went to an astrologer. No matter what he says I still want to take full responsibility.
“Fish out water” – many people are experiencing the same problem now. What would you recommend for these people?
Feeling like “fish out of water” means feeling either anxiety or being out of your body. What helped me – not neglecting it but going through that phase. My body got trained and now whenever something happens in my life, whenever I have to take a decision – it gives me a sign. It’s like a gut feeling.
When I came out of that condition I realized that it was a positive thing actually, not a negative one. It’s just a learning experience.
