Teaching Experience

" I began teaching at sixteen. It wasn’t easy—I was nervous, aware of the responsibility I held in front of each student. But deep down, I had always known I would become a teacher. Even at age fourteen, I had already begun to think not just as a dancer, but as a future mentor. I would write down everything my teachers said—their exact words—so that one day, I could pass on their knowledge with clarity and respect.

Over time, I became obsessed with understanding technique—not just to better myself as a dancer, but to ensure I could teach it to others with integrity and precision.

But not all my teachers were kind. Some of the most celebrated coaches used harsh, even abusive methods. That experience left deep scars—insecurities that lingered well into my adult life. And so, I promised myself: I would take what worked and leave behind what didn’t. I would teach differently.

That’s when my interest in psychology and spirituality began to blossom. The more I grew, the more I struggled with fear—fear of failure, of mistakes, of not performing. I wanted to understand these feelings, to overcome them. And in doing so, I discovered the power of gentleness, of motivation over pressure, of teaching through understanding rather than control.

Eventually, students began to seek me out. Their parents saw the impact I was having. The children I taught became my dance family, bound by genuine love and shared dreams. And slowly, their wins started coming. First, they triumphed at local competitions. Then, they became National Champions of Kazakhstan.

In Germany, I taught extraordinarily talented children. And today in the U.S., my students are U.S. National Champions and World Champions across various age and skill levels. I work with brilliant Pro/Am dancers between the ages of 40 and 98, and young dancers from just 3 to 16 years old. Each of them is succeeding at their own pace, in their own way. And nothing brings me greater joy.

During the quiet of the COVID-19 pandemic, I stumbled upon my old diaries—written when I was 17. In those pages was a list of dreams. One line stood out:

"Create an online dance course for people."

And so I did.

With the world on pause, I saw an opportunity to bring that teenage dream to life. I began filming my first online courses. It took me sometime to find the right approach to teaching online, since there is no physical touch. I had to find a way for people to understand and truly learn new skills without me being physically present and use touch to help them. 

Learning how to teach without touch, how to explain through a screen, how to truly connect through words and presence alone.

Over the next couple of years, my Instagram community began to grow. People were eager to learn. In 2022, I launched my second course, and over time, with the help of a dedicated production team, we built a global community of over 350 dancers of all levels and ages.

Today, I am more passionate than ever about creating a space where dancers can grow—not just in skill, but in strength, flexibility, and emotional awareness.

This is why I created NOV EL.

This platform holds 22 years of my life experience—more than half a million dollars' worth of knowledge, hundreds of hours of practice, every tear, every joy, every failure and triumph. It holds the essence of my life as a dancer, teacher, performer—and as a vulnerable, ever-evolving human being.

NOV EL represents the story we each get to write—the novel of our own journey. It’s a place where you can explore, grow, connect, and create your own dance story.

Inside NOV EL, you’ll find everything you need to become the best dancer you can be
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