Fit for a King
Words: Michelle Wallace IG @my.michelle.w
Photography: Sergey Yusin @sergey_yusin
Wardrobe: Jaxson Maximus @jaxsonmaximus
Make-up: Julia Brig @juliabrigmia
style | June 01, 2021
Shuffling Through Life
Words / Miami Vibes Magazine | IG: @miamivibesmag
photography / Sergey Yusin | IG @sergey_yusin
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Following her big break into film-industry with the feature film “Die Vermessung der Welt” (directed by Detlev Buck), Anastasiia moved to Berlin to work as an international manager and project evaluator at the Delphie Filverleich Company. She had the chance to work with the distribution of the oscar-winning film “The Artist” and oscar-winning actor Jean Dujardin. After participating in an acting program in Los Angeles and taking a few classes at the Stella Adler’s academy of acting, Anastasiia moved to Los Angeles and within one year made it to Miami. Here in the Magic City, Ana did a pilot tv-series with Burt Reynolds filmed at the Burt Reynolds Institute for Film and Theatre in Jupiter, Florida, as well as participated in multiple commercial projects both as an actress and model. After working for Bang Energy and VPX Pharmaceuticals as a social media influencer, Ana found her passion for healthy lifestyle and workout. This inspired her to create a 30 Day Shuffle dance Workout series on her youtube channel. Now Anastasia is focusing more on promoting “healthy spirit in a healthy body” attitude.
How did you get into the shuffle dance?
I've been dancing since I was five years old. First, in the theatre of dance studying every possible style there is - ballroom dancing, contemporary, jazz, flamenco, etc. Later becoming a teacher of dance for children ages five to eleven and studying contemporary dance in Toulouse, France. It wasn’t until I moved to Miami that I discovered shuffle dance and fell in love with a style of music that was very new to me, house.
My very first year in Miami I attempted to learn how to shuffle, but I couldn’t find any easy-to-follow tutorials online and I gave up because it was just very hard for me to understand. It wasn’t until three years later when I was going through a difficult time mentally and I needed something to focus on. So I decided to give the shuffle another chance and learn tumbling in a gymnastic school. I think those two physically hard activities are what kept my spirits up during my difficult time. And because there were no available tutorials on youtube explaining various shuffle dance moves, I started making videos myself.
How have you been able to inspire and empower others with your workout tutorials?
Well, at first, it was just for me - to keep track of the moves I already learned. But then I started getting all this great unexpected feedback and comments on my videos from all over the world, and before I knew it, people were inspired to learn how to shuffle with my tutorials. People were asking me to create more videos and it was great to see that what I was doing was inspiring others to learn along with me.
Working out is what gave me mental strength during my difficult time and I'm more than happy to share my experience with others and populate the culture of getting and staying fit. Physical exercise truly produces hormones of happiness inside your body. Combine that with your favorite music and dancing - that's the perfect workout for me. That's how the idea of Shuffle Dance Workouts was actually born. Seeing people from all over the world commenting on my 30 Day shuffle workout program, especially during the pandemic, was priceless. People from Spain, Italy, Germany - countries where people were forced to stay inside their homes- were so thankful for my
workout program.
You've acted, danced and modeled. Which has been your favorite niche and why?
Acting in movies is still my favorite thing because there I can incorporate all sorts of artistic expressions - dance, singing and modeling. I've been in love with movies for as long as I can remember and one of my favorite films is “Moulin Rouge” with Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor directed by Baz Luhrmann. Technically, it is a musical. But look closer and it is also a comedy, drama and romance. Luc Besson and Joe Wright are my two favorite film directors ever.
If there was only one thing I could do for the rest of my life - it would be film. Filming, directing, acting. All my workout videos I shoot and edit myself. During this process i've learned a great deal with all the mistakes I made - the importance of light, sound quality, camera angles, transitions and b-roll. I pride myself in creating all of my content myself. It's not easy, but it gives me much freedom.
This month, we're talking about new beginnings and starting the year off with this "new normal." Do you have anything in the works you would like to share
with us?
I have many plans in store for next year. Creating a new improved workout program, publishing the children's book I wrote, finishing up the film script I'm working on, exhibiting my paintings and finally getting around producing music. So many big plans!
“New normal” to me became creating online content instead of hosting personal classes face to face. This expanded the
circle of my influence, making it limitless, and uniting people who are striving to be stronger, healthier and happier.
You've hoped from place to place. Do you feel like you'll be in Miami for a while or do you have another destination in mind for the future?
Living in Miami is truly living in paradise. It would definitely be difficult to move away from here after almost six years of bliss. Time will tell but for now, I'm happy in the Magic City.
