Dancing in Times of War

Opening the soul through dance

Dancing in front of the opera house in Odesa, Ukraine

I first met Yuliya on Facebook when she posted to the Songs for Ukraine Facebook group. What I love about how she approaches the world is that she sees music and motion (dance) as ways to empower women - to help them love and celebrate their bodies. To quote Yuliya, “One of the goals of my studio is to show every woman that she can dance, regardless of age or body type.”

Since COVID and the invasion of Ukraine, Yuliya has been tirelessly working to keep her dance studio in Odesa, Ukraine open - moving classes online, renting her studio out for events, and finding creative ways to promote her work. This has included organizing the remarkable flash mob below:

Premiered Jun 28, 2022
”We did it! The dance flash mob "Good evening, we are from Ukraine" took place!

We thank all the participants who took part in this event. For many, this is a new experience, but it was not an obstacle. When there is a great desire to learn new things, to be charged with positive emotions, and to be in a team of like-minded people.”

Needless to say, life hasn’t been easy, but you only have to watch Yuliya and her students dance to realize how invaluable her work is. Yuliya agreed to let me ask some questions about her life, approach to music and dance, and vision for the future. Here is a summary of our interview:

Q: Where are you from in Ukraine?
A: My mother city is Oleshky, in the Kherson region. But I always wanted to live in a big city. I moved to Odessa and have been living here for the last 15 years. So my dream came true!

Q: How did you get started dancing? Have you always expressed yourself through dance?
A: I have always loved to dance. Since childhood, I was engaged in modern versions of Ukrainian folk dances.

Q: Were your parents supportive?
A: When I was a child, my mother decided to send me to a dance club. But she didn't take this activity seriously. My mother did not support my desire to be a dancer and did not even go to performances to cheer me on. Her vision for me was to get a business education so I could make money. She thought that dancing was not a serious profession.

Q: Did you study anywhere (school) or with anyone (teacher) that really influenced you?
A: I was inspired by Indian films. When I was a small girl I used to dance along with the dancers in the Indian films I watched. It is not about studying, and not about teachers. Dance was my passion. That passion was born before I begin to dance professionally.

Q: There are many kinds of dance. Which one(s) appeal to you most?
A: My favorite kind of dances are Indian and belly dancing, of course, but I am also fond of hip-hop dance, break dancing, and ballet.

Q: What do you love most about dance?
A: I love that the person is real and the soul is opened while dancing.

Q: Please tell me the story of your school and how it got started.
A: I’d wanted to open my own school since I was 20, but didn’t get the opportunity because of a lack of experience and funding. I had to work hard to earn money and develop my skills. Then, in 2017, I was finally able to open my school. The school got started only with 4 kids.

I advertised by myself, going to supermarkets, and schools, and handing my flyers to everyone I met. Eventually, I was able to afford to start advertising on social media. Because I couldn’t afford to buy a studio, I had to rent studio space by the hour at schools and other public spaces. When COVID-19 started, I kept offering classes online. Now I rent one studio on a permanent basis.

Q: What are your goals with the school?
A: One of the goals of my studio is to show every woman that she can dance, regardless of age or body type.

Q: How has the Russian invasion impacted you personally and professionally?
A: I prefer not to involve political issues in my work.

Q: Why do you feel it's so important to keep dance, music, art, etc. alive at this time?
A: Because life goes on, despite the war. Dancing, music, art and so on really help us all to maintain a normal life.

Q: Do you have any fundraising efforts in place? How can people help you?
A: Nobody helps me financially. People already help by still being interested in and signing up for dance classes. They really show they need me. 

But enough with the words. Below is some music that Yuliya loves and shared with me. I love it too!

More Songs to Dance By:

To learn more about Yuliya and her school, Show Dance, follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/showdanceod/

And join their Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/yuliya.samulyak.1/