Acting Journey
I grew up in Kazakhstan where my training in classical ballet started at Stepnogorsk Community Ballet Studio. I graduated from Kurgan State University with a Master’s in History and Archeology, while continuing to perform with a local dance troupe.
When I received a “genius visa” and a job offer from a company in New York City, teaching dance to people with disabilities became my first job. But the dream of an acting career pushed me to take acting classes and start auditioning.
In the years to follow I was fortunate to study with prolific contemporary choreographers such as Kay Nishikawa and Laura Shapiro, get vocal training with Ron Shetler, and to act with Blessed Unrest, New Stage, PM and NYLON Fusion theater companies.
I am a teaching artist, who had taught movement workshops in Russia, Japan and Switzerland. Teaching performing arts to kids from immigrant families in Brooklyn is my day job and source of joy.
In the NYC theater scene, I often work as a choreographer or movement director. I had the honor of choreographing the world premieres of Don Nigro “The Chaplin Plays”, Judith Estrine’s “Sewing the Dream”, Roman Freud’s “The Singing Windmills”, John Patrick Shanley’s “Candlelight”, Henry Kean’s “Baudelair’s Passion”.
Nature, scientific discoveries, puppetry, video art, traditional crafts, anthropological studies fascinate and inspire me.
Being a breast cancer survivor, I turn my expereinces into art.
I continue to explore my Ukrainian, Siberian, and Kazakhstani roots by honoring local traditions in my creations.
Awards: “Best actress” prize at Midtown International theater festival, twce “best perfromer” winner at Planet connections theater festivity , Winner of Secondo Theater festival (Zurich, Switzerland).
actress/movement director 