The history has its roots… let’s say in 1990-ies, when Katrina Rute, the person of charge of the group, started to look for Indian dance courses in Latvia. There was nothing like that at that time, though in 1997 she got acquainted with an Indian lady Mridu who organized Indian folk dance group “Spicy Ladies”. Actually, it was just for fun: some Indian and not only Indian girls (though, Katrina was the only local person there) just gathered together and learned some joyful folk dances for performing them on different occasions like the party of Business Woman Club etc.

In 1999 Katrina met Russian ethnologist Svetlana Ryzhakova (you can read more about this unique personality in Our Teachers), who also performed Kathak. She agreed to give some classes for the girls who’re interested in that dance. After she left we went on practicing. Next year she came again giving us more and more material, and after some time, in 2000, some of us began to learn Bharatnatyam as well under the guidance of Estonian lady Pille Roosi.

How do we study, how do we put our skills into practice?

As for Kathak, Svetlana Ryzhakova is coming here every year for a month or two. We have intensive classes with her, and then try to learn some new compositions. Then, some of us also go to Moscow from time to time, where there’re so many opportunities: Kathak classes at the J. Nehru Cultural Centre and others. While being in India (in 2001, 2002 and 2005), Katrina (and also Liene) had classes in Kathak Kendra under the guidance of prominent dancer Shri Rajendra Gangani and his brother Harish Gangani, as well as Bharatnatyam classes.

As for Bharatnatyam, Pille Roosi is coming once in 1-2 month for a weekend to give the lessons; in her absence we train ourselves, repeating the adavus (the basic exercises/movements/technical combinations) and dances. Since autumn, 2002, thanks to the efforts of Svetlana Ryzhakova and Lila, a prominent dancer Dmitry Zmeyev (see the chapter Our Teachers) has been regularly coming from Moscow to teach the admirers of Bharatnatyam. Katrina, and some other girls also had a number of classes with him while being in Moscow.

The event of the year for us is the performance of our teacher Svetlana in Riga. Obviously, that’s a big honour and responsibility – to dance with one’s teacher. That’s why we always feel so nervous! After such an experience other performances seem to be less stressful, though it doesn’t mean they require less responsibility and less preparations! You could see us in a well-known project of Aigars Gravers – Ramadance, on the stage of Ave Sol concert hall, at hair style festival Londa, in yoga school Dipika, in Vija Vetra dance group Ritual, during events which are connected with oriental/Indian culture, regular performances in Riga and other Latvian cities, participation in TV shows etc.

Why do the people come to us? Some of them used to say that they were “looking for Indian dance courses for a long time, but there was nothing like that in our country”. Some of them at first were attracted by the grace of movements (though in the beginning thought that classical dance is the same thing that we see in movies) and bright costume, some of them were deeply moved by their spiritual meaning.

The structure of the group was changing all the time; on the one hand, it’s really great when new people are coming, on the other hand, it’s so sad when they’re leaving, especially those who had really good potential. Some of the ladies didn’t have enough time to go on, some left when they understood that they won’t have results in a minute: Indian dance requires much patience, practice and also time. That’s why experienced teachers say that first of all the students must be totally devoted to the Art of dancing. Only then they can make a progress. One more important thing is that one has to go deep into theoretical part of classical dance and try to investigate the message of it. That gives the right approach.

As for now, Katrina Rute is the leader of Lila; Katrina, Liene, Renate, Natalya and Lena constitute the ‘core’ of the group. Our group is not a sort of closed structure. Everybody is welcomed to join us! New people, new resources, new ideas - everybody is welcome!