Jenia Kasatkina

Originally from Russia, Jenia Kasatkina is now based in Amsterdam (the Netherlands). She has been teaching Countertechnique since 2012, after studying it since 2004 and attending the Countertechnique Teacher Training in 2012 and 2014.

Jenia studied modern and contemporary dance at the Rotterdam Dance Academy / Codarts in the Netherlands. During her education and after her graduation in 2009 she has worked as a dancer with several companies and choreographers, such as Jack Gallagher, Nanine Linning, Leine&Roebana, Norrdans, De Stilte, and United-C. She performed with dance company anoukvandijk dc already in 2004. In 2012 Jenia became a certified Countertechnique teacher and at the moment she is teaching in different places and companies in Holland and abroad.

“While teaching, I enjoy the process – the development of a person, mind, and body. I want to be a part of that process: observe it, guide it, and help it. I enjoy to discover new things together with the dancers, to make them think positively and objectively about themselves, their bodies and technique, and to be able to have fun and enjoy dancing. I like to create a comfortable and easy-going atmosphere where people feel free and safe to try new things and make mistakes in order to move forward and grow as a professional dancer. For me, it is important that class is not only a tool for dancers to get warm for rehearsals and shows, but also to make class an enjoyable and challenging process.

“Countertechnique is a thinking-process orientated system, which helps you to connect with the space around and inside of you, as well as with people around you. It focuses you on a very gradual warm up of the whole body and it helps you to stay present in that exact moment and space while dancing. Countertechnique teaches you to be gentle and smart with your own body and at the same time encourages you to take a risk and dance with your full, maximum range.”