Yana Novotorova is a dancer, performer, creator and educator. Coming originally from Kyiv, Ukraine, where she studied theatre and psychology, in 2013 Yana moved to Germany to study dance and has been based in Cologne since. Yana attained her BA degree in contemporary dance with the focus on dance dissemination and somatic practices at the Center for Contemporary Dance in Cologne (HfMT). Upon graduation she received CROSSOVER scholarship from KunstSalon-Stiftung, as well as DAAD scholarship, which allowed her to continue and deepen her study with the Axis Syllabus International Research Community, resulting in her entering the certification process. Apart from that, Yana is currently finishing MA degree in stage research (Szenische Forschung) at Ruhr-University Bochum.
As a dancer/performer Yana worked, among others, with Eleonora Siarava, Jan Burkhardt and Sigal Zouk, Bianca Mendonca, Cie. Willi Dorner, Simone Forti, Susanne Grau, Stefanie Schwimmbeck, Susanne Helmes, Lili M Rampre, Linda Nadji and Boris Nikitin. Since 2017 Yana is creating her own works in collaboration with fellow artists. Her research-based, interdisciplinary approach is inspired by various artistic and scientific discourses, as well as somatic practices and contact improvisation. Yana has been awarded various scholarships and residencies, such as INKUBATOR residency (Tanzfaktur), residency at artistic center S’ALA, Tanzrecherche NRW scholarship, #TakeCare Residency in collaboration with tanzhaus nrw.
In 2021, with the support of NPN-Stepping out funding, she produced her first full-length performance “Studies On Symbolic Violence Vol.I”, which premiered in Berlin. Apart from that, she co-directed theater performance “AGENDA” in collaboration with Theater der Keller, which was nominated for the Cologne Dance and Theater Prize.
Yana’s artistic work is rooted in her movement and performance practice, which she also shares in various contexts. Yana has taught contemporary dance, Axis Syllabus and contact improvisation at Tanzfaktur, Rheinische Musikschule Köln, Ehrenfeldstudios, Tanzhaus NRW and is being frequently invited to teach Profitraining in Cologne. Since 2020 Yana is regularly teaching at the Cologne Centre for Dance Arts (CODA) and facilitates the Axis Syllabus Lab at the Tanzfaktur.