We were lucky to catch up with INNA IEVTIEIEVA recently and have shared our conversation below.

INNA, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I started dancing as a hobby when I was five years old. It was simply something I loved — a way to express myself and feel alive. As I grew up, I continued dancing while going to school, and even when I entered university to study ecology, dance never left my life.

During those years, I began teaching — first children, then adults — and I realized how much joy and energy it brought me to help others discover movement. Later, when I went to work in Japan, it became clear that dance wasn’t just a passion anymore — it was becoming my true profession. I was earning more from teaching and performing than from any other work, but more importantly, I felt fulfilled and inspired. That’s when I knew this was the path I was meant to follow — to live through dance and share it with others.

INNA, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Inna, a professional salsa and bachata dance instructor based in Los Angeles. My journey in dance began when I was just five years old. What started as a joyful hobby soon became the core of my life and career. Over the years, I’ve taught in different countries, worked with dancers of all levels, and discovered how deeply movement can transform people — not only physically, but emotionally and socially.

Through my work, I help people connect socially, build confidence, and stay healthy, fit, and full of energy. My classes are more than just dance lessons — they’re a place where people find joy, expression, and community.

What sets me apart is my background. I was trained as a professional dancer and also have a strong foundation in physiology, which helps me quickly understand each student’s body and personality. I can recognize a person’s strengths right away and find the most natural way to help them open up and express themselves through movement.

One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how my students grow — not only as dancers, but as people. In my group classes, I love watching strangers become friends, support each other, and create something beautiful together through dance.

My values are to be kind, share beauty, be unique, and be authentic. I believe that even when it feels like no one is by your side, you still have yourself — and through self-expression, passion, and dedication, you can make your biggest dreams come true.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The lesson I had to unlearn was that everything needs to be perfect before it can be shared.

For a long time, I believed that every performance, every class, every video had to look flawless — every step in the right place, every movement polished. I used to spend so much energy trying to control every detail that sometimes I forgot the real essence of dance: connection, feeling, and authenticity.

The turning point came when I started teaching more and saw how my students would sometimes freeze because they were afraid to make a mistake. I recognized myself in them. That’s when I realized — perfection is not what moves people. Honesty does.

So I unlearned the need to be perfect and replaced it with the courage to be present, expressive, and real. Now, I tell my students: “Don’t dance for perfection — dance for connection.” And that lesson has changed not only the way I teach, but the way I live.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the freedom to create anywhere — no matter where life takes you.

When the war in Ukraine began in February 2022, I found myself far from home. I had come to another country just for one month, and within two weeks, everything changed. Suddenly, I was standing in a new world with just one suitcase — scared, broken, and unsure what would happen next.

But art — especially dance — gave me something to hold on to. It reminded me that even when you lose everything familiar, your creativity stays with you. You can rebuild, reconnect, and inspire others from any place on Earth.

Being an artist means carrying your light inside you. It means that no matter what happens outside, you still have the power to create beauty, to share energy, and to bring hope — for yourself and for others. That freedom, that resilience, is the most rewarding part of my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inna_worldproject?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/innaworldproject?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@inna_worldproject