We were lucky to catch up with VALERIE KOSNEVICH recently and have shared our conversation below.

VALERIE, appreciate you joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Since high school years I was always engaged in dance activities, competitions and dance camps. Back then it has been considered a hobby, but I felt a deeper connection to dance than just an after school activity. While moving to another country I had to stop dancing for a few months, but I was always looking out for dance opportunities. Any studio and group I danced with were great, but something felt being left aside. While dancing with the modern dance ensemble my dance teacher Janna told me that I should consider auditioning for the Jerusalem Dance Academy. To be accepted had I to be prominent in ballet, modern and the improvisation. I had only one, the rest I had to catch up with within a few months. I wanted to have career in dance when I was in the 11th grade, but faced misunderstanding from the side of my parents, who have not considered it to be a professional path. Three years later I got accepted into the Dance Academy. This was the beginning of my dance career.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started taking dance classes as a kid, then I had a four-year break, during which I was playing tennis. My mom offered me to get back into dance classes, since she considered dance to be more graceful as well having a better coordination. I hesitated a lot, since it has been a full four years break. But coming to the studio was the very beginning of my dance career. The after school time was spent in the studio. I was very happy when we had additional rehearsals during the weekends to prepare for dance battles and performances. Within a year dance studio became a magical escape from the school routine. Not that I hated learning, it just was too much and dancing gave me joy. Being with the teammates, working on routines, going out together and traveling – these were one of the greatest moments in my life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Throughout my dance journey I faced a few rejections, which were really hard to get along with. In general, having so much passion and love for the thing that you do in your life pushes you and helps you to overcome setbacks. But sometimes there are those moments, when it takes a lot of strength to keep on going and pushing through. When I auditioned for the two Dance Academies, I got accepted right away only to one of them, which was less preferred. I really wanted to be in the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with my whole heart, it felt like home. Being rejected for the second time did not make things easier, but I knew that this was the place I wanted to be in. In art it is very hard to know what are the reasons for not making it through; art is very personal and subjective: you can be the best dancer, but still not make it through. The biggest lesson that I keep learning till today is-you are doing your best, and the rest will happen, if it is destined for you.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Most of the time when I learn something new: understand the principle of how it works, feel really comfortable within it or get prominent knowledge, I have a moment of: “I wish I knew it before”. But then right away I let go of this thought. Things are happening to us at the right time of our lives. Sometimes we are not ready to accept the gift that lives gives to us or won’t appreciate it as much as when the perfect timing comes. This is a kind of struggle and blessing for me: it can take months and years before I will be able fully appreciate the occurrence of certain situations in my life. But staying hopeful throughout these moments, believing and knowing that your time is yet to come is the best what you can do.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valerie_kos/

Image Credits
Sdfmedianyc Alberto Barreto Liz Schneider Kuoheng Huang