The Professional Dancer, Choreographer, and Model from Toronto
For an artist of any kind, the social media has become their portfolio.
Photography: Dennis (@motiondphotography)
Ksenia was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and was born on the World Dance Day which she believes set her up for the path her life has taken.
She started her training with ballet which gave her the greatest foundation for everything she learnt after that.
In recent years she has also developed an interest for modelling.
We sat with Ksenia for this exclusive interview and learnt many interesting things about her.
Photography: VeeReels (@veereels)
Hi Ksenia. Can you tell us a little bit about your background? How did you become a dancer, and where did you receive your training?
I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and I was born on World Dance Day which I believe set me up for the path my life has taken. I’m lucky enough to have been dancing since childhood, starting when I was about three years old. Even before I started formal dance classes, I was always the toddler who couldn’t stop dancing, so I definitely found my passion early.
I started my training with ballet, which is an esteemed art form in Russia where I grew up, and although I am not a ballet dancer anymore, it gave me the greatest foundation for everything I learned after, especially in terms of discipline and determination. Soon after, I picked up bellydance when I used to travel to Turkey and Egypt every summer with my mom and my grandma. Once I moved to Canada during elementary school, I continued dance classes at a Russian studio in Toronto, also learning some other styles, including salsa and waltz.
I started taking acting classes at the same time and took them all throughout school, which gave me a really strong base for becoming the performer I am today and graduating cum laude with my BA with Honours in Theatre from York University.
I would say that for me, dance and acting training went hand in hand and I think the reason I have been successful as a dancer so far is due to my experience as an actor as well. In recent years I’ve been interested in modelling, so my training in the arts has allowed me to flourish as a model, in addition to as an actor and dancer.
What type of dance do you perform? How would you describe the overall style of your work?
One of my favourite things about my dance training and experience is how many different styles I’ve been fortunate enough to learn and showcase. Apart from ballet and bellydance, I was very interested in Latin dance styles as a child. I was constantly surrounded by Latin music at home, which led to my first CD being a Ricky Martin album that I played on repeat for years. I then explored styles such as bachata, salsa, and one of my favourite styles ever, reggaeton. I’ve also performed and had training in shadow dance, heels, go-go, hip hop, samba, jazz funk, bollywood, and commercial dance, among others.
Bellydance is one of my favourites and the style I’ve been dancing the most recently, and I try to dance, choreograph and perform reggaeton as often as I can.
I would describe the overall style of my work as dynamic – I have a lot of energy and I love to leave a powerful impression no matter what I do.
What are the most important traits a professional dancer should have?
Words that come to mind immediately are professionalism, kindness, gratitude, discipline, and drive.
Since networking is an integral part of the performance and entertainment industry (not just in dance, but in acting and modelling as well), it is crucial as a performer to always show the best version of yourself, and in a genuine manner. Being kind and courteous goes a long way and leads to good friendships, strong client relationships, and a positive reputation.
Gratitude is something every professional dancer should focus on because so many opportunities we receive come from other people and showing your appreciation to those people is vital to your success (and theirs!). Being grateful also fuels you with positivity and motivates you further by acknowledging the great experiences you’ve had.
Drive is a big one because it is what gets you through all the obstacles – physical and emotional – that a professional dancer goes through. Emotional strength and determination to do what you love is essential because it is easy to fall into feeling discouraged or rejected (which is something we deal with in the industry on a daily basis).
Photography: Ali Syed (@alis.bubbles)
What do you like most about performing, and which is your favorite place to dance?
I love literally everything about it – the chance to share what I am most passionate about with others, the feeling of putting on a show that people are excited to see, performing to favourite music, the rush of being in the spotlight, the high stakes of live entertainment, the lively crowds and people I’m on stage with, the costumes, the events, the culmination of years of hard work resulting in the current moment – I could go on and on.
I’ve taken a liking to performing in restaurants in recent months. I love the feeling of performing for an audience and then dancing and socializing with all of them after. I also love performing on a big stage, and that comes from my years of theatre. But really, any time I get to perform anywhere at all is something I am eternally grateful for and I dance at every performance space as if it is the most important stage I’ll ever be on.
Describe the best performance you’ve ever put on.
I don’t think I could ever choose just one performance as my best. I believe I get better with every show, every class I take, and every training I go through, so maybe each most recent show is the best one I’ve put on!
One of my most memorable performances, though, is one I put on when I was about 6 years old on a vacation in Turkey. Because I could never stop dancing, one of the employees at the hotel bar invited me to dance there one evening. I was adamant in going even though my mom and grandma told me that they were probably joking, and I ended up dancing on the bar stand non-stop for a solid two hours. A passerby even gave me a small tip and my mom and grandma and I went to buy ice cream with it right after. This remains one of my favourite dance stories and I feel like life has really come full circle.
What are some of the highlights of your career?
Some of my highlights include being a backup dancer for Sasy’s sold out Meridian Hall show of his Tehran Tokyo Tour; modelling for a cruelty-free, sustainable clothing company; filming a major commercial; winning a Best Choreography award at a theatre festival in Washington D.C., and another at a festival in Russia; directing and choreographing a play; and being part of a proposal flash mob in downtown Toronto.
I cannot thank enough the individuals, companies, and artists that have trusted me to take part in these projects and many others.
Tell us about the artist you admire the most.
One of my favourite artists has to be Maluma. Out of all the music I love, his songs are the ones that captivate me the most and the ones I love dancing to. It would be a dream to dance for one of his concerts one day!
When did you begin choreographing? Tell us about your first experience.
I have no recollection of a first time I began choreographing, probably because I started in childhood. I used to dance at home all the time, often with a gymnastics ribbon my mom had, or this long flowy skirt from my grandma’s closet, and I would try different movements with them to music. I would repeat them to get them better each time, and I think stringing the movements together got me choreographing before I really knew what it was.
What qualities do you look for in someone wanting to be a dancer? Any suggestion you would like to give to upcoming dancers?
People who are pleasant to work with are the ones you want to work with again and again – the way you treat people on the job and behind closed doors has a substantial effect on your consideration for jobs going forward. When I get the chance to either directly cast or refer a dancer for a job, I always go with the ones that I know will be appreciative, committed, and team-players (and, of course, skilled dancers).
I would recommend aspiring dancers to be mindful of how they present themselves to others and think about what sorts of connections they’d like to make in the industry. I think it also important for more dancers to start thinking of themselves as performers – there is a visible difference between someone who simply dances and someone who performs.
When choreographing a piece how do you approach the creation process? What do you draw inspiration from?
Music is what guides me in choreography. I often picture moves in my head before I’ve even started choreographing, and the whole creation process feels like a puzzle; it’s like coming up with movements is collecting little pieces and putting them together. Sometimes they fit right away, and other times I have to rearrange them or find different pieces altogether.
I get inspiration from various dance and music styles that I’ve been exposed to. For example, I included kizomba moves in a heels number for an engagement party and I’ve infused a reggaeton choreography with bellydance. If I hear influences from other music styles in a song, my reaction is to bring those dance styles in as well.
What difference do you feel in today’s dancers compared to the old-school style?
I think the main and very obvious difference is the presence of social media. So much of my work is done through Instagram and I would not have had many of the jobs I’ve worked if it weren’t for those online connections. For an artist of any kind, our social media has become our portfolio and, apart from the downsides of social networking, this provides us with countless opportunities.
What advice would you give to an aspiring choreographer?
Find your niche, your own style. Having something that sets you apart from other choreographers will do wonders for your projects and having your work noticed.
Give us some of your favorite hangout spots in Toronto.
I love going for walks and being outside, so I love spending time in parks or green spaces whenever I can. I also enjoy anything with beautiful views or architecture around, so a walk downtown by Queen’s Park or the waterfront in sunny weather is ideal.
What are your current projects? What are some of the projects you’d like to pursue in the future?
Currently, I am rehearsing for an upcoming play, and dancing weekly at various venues in the GTA. Many gigs come together last minute, so there’s always a good chance I’ll be doing something tomorrow without expecting to.
For the future, I am very open to anything, and I hope to be able to try my hand at new skills that will make me a stronger performer and open more doors for me. I want to participate in more filmed projects, as well as larger scale live shows, and anything innovative that I can contribute to with my expertise.
Photography: Kathleen Glenn (@kathleen.nef)
Physical and mental health is something I’ve started taking a lot more seriously in the past few years, and I feel it has paid off. Every day, I’m building a healthier relationship with self-care, food, exercise (including recovery, since my job is extremely physical), and most importantly, myself. Consistency is key, and I feel the best and strongest – physically and mentally – than I’ve ever felt.
The real secret ingredient, though, is confidence. Even if you have to fake it till you make it, if you start carrying yourself in a self-assured way, it will make a striking difference in your life.
What are some of your other hobbies?
I really enjoy reading, especially murder mysteries, thrillers, and humour (some of my favourites are The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Silent Patient, and anything Agatha Christie).
I like making time for anything creative like painting, drawing, or handmaking gifts, although because I am a huge perfectionist this usually stresses me out, which I’m not sure hobbies are supposed to do!
I also love languages and travelling and hope to go on some new adventures again soon.
Your message for our readers.
Support the artists in your lives! The arts and media, be it dance, music, film, games, visual arts, etc., touch everyone. We all rely on comforting TV shows to rewatch, new songs by our favourite artists, and exciting nightlife entertainment, and it’s sometimes hard to imagine how many people work extremely hard to bring those things to life. Good performers make their jobs look easy and appreciate when others understand how difficult they can be.
Your message for us at TorontoPages (TOPS)?
I’d like to thank you for providing me with an opportunity to share some of my thoughts here – I am honoured and beyond excited to have taken part. I hope the magazine continues to grow and feature all the most interesting people and things Toronto has to offer.
Photography: Kathleen Glenn (@kathleen.nef)
