We were lucky to catch up with Dana Shermister recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Dana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I have been working on lately is “Jason Derulo Vegas residency” .
I have been working and dancing for Jason the past year, I did 2 music videos, some shows around the US but residency was always a big dream of mine! I didnt expect to get this job so I was surprised, excited and stressed at the same time haha.
We rehersad for over 2 weeks to make the show come together. I love performing in Vegas because its a different show than the tour show. Its funny, its sexy, the interaction with the audience is the part that I like the most and the fact that its more intimate makes it even better.
Its meaningful to me because I gave up my life back home (Israel) to pursue my dance career and I wanted to do something big like this. Be able to share my talent every week on stage and exchange energy on stage is the best i could ever ask to myself.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Dana Shermister. I am 26 years old, Greek from Israel.
Ive been dancing my whole life focusing on ballet and contemporary. At the age of 18 i served in the Israeli miltary for 2 years while still training every day at the studio. After I got released, I decided I want to try and dance in nY and LA.
Needless to say that I fell in love with LA. The city, the industry, the hunger, the art and the talent.
I was so inspired and knew I want to live here. Unfortunately I had to go back home after 3 month to work on my artist visa in order to live here. It took me about a year to get everything together but right when I was about to apply, covid 19 hit.
I was really sad as everyone and felt like my dream just going away from me.
I didnt give up for a second, and kept believing that everything has its own timing. While staying in Israel waiting for covid to pass, I decided I want to start teaching dance also, so I studied in school for another year to get my instructor certificate and started to teach kids – hip hop and for my adult clients ,my passion – heels classes.
I opened up to the heels world when I first came to LA. I didnt know it was a thing but from day one I know that thats what I want to do. At the beginning of 2022 i finally moved to LA and let me tell you, its been a crazy ride so far!but I love every second of it. It was hard in the beginning to find my own place. To feel comfortable and to make it feel like home. It was also really hard and still is to get in the dance industry. Especially for a girl that came from a really small country like Israel. I had to get to know a lot of people and show my face everywhere that for an introvert person like me can be a little draining sometimes.. going to auditions, beliving that I can make it out here, and build new life here. After a year I got the oppurtonity to start teaching my heels classes out here at Millennium dance complex. That was a huge relief, starting to share and choreograph again was really necessary to me. I forgot how much I enjoy teaching and creating. I also got to work with Jason Derulo, Camille Cabello and Chloe Bailey. Dancing, performing and educating is my purpose, every day that I get to do what i love is a blessing.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes. I thing its important for as (artists) to have a goal / mission because thats how we get to where we want to get. If you dont have a goal you never gonna reach anything. Its that easy if you think of it like that.
i thing as a creative my mission changes as I change. We go through a lot in life, personally, creatively, physically and as we grow to be our better self our goals, dreams or wishes can change also.
I can share that at first my goal was moving to LA – what will I do after i move to LA i had no idea, i just know i need to be here.
After i achieved my goal, I set another goal. Shoot a MV, and performing with Jason Derulo, so I did. I can go on and on, and from me just telling you what I have accomplished in my career us great and sounds so easy but i promisee you its nit. I can tell you I didnt even know how hard its going to be but i just know i will never give up. It only ends when you give up so be aware of that! Anything you want to achieve is possible.
I thing know my mission changed a little bit. I still have dreams and goals as a performer but I am more so driven by passion and do what makes me feel good. Be the best version of myself and build my own brand as a heels instructor. I find it really fulfilling to help other dancers find their own voice.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I wish I knew how much power social media have.
After i moved out here I realized how important is to have a good social media. Not even how much followers you have, although it can help you get a certain jobs. Its how you present yourself on this platform. What are you showcasing, what kind of person you are, what style of dance you dance, your personality etc. i wish I knew my profile can provide me a lot if not most of the jobs. I had to learn it while learning so much already so it was a little overwhelming to me. I glad i did it though, but i am still figuring it out haha. This is onr of the hardest things to m, im an old fashioned person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danashermister.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdanashermister?igsh=MmVlMjlkMTBhMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@danashermister2486

Image Credits

@ugotthave_whit
@juliennetaylorgreen