My mother always wanted me to be a dancer. When I was 6 I entered first grade in my school in Ukraine. My mom had two choices; Dance club or gymnastics. She decided that would be better for me. The nights before my first dance practice, she stayed all night up, making my first pair of shoes. At the time we did not have a lot of money to buy professional dance shoes, so the only way for her was to make them. They were not perfect but they were mine and they were made with love. From 6 years old to now (I am 19), I have had more than 20 pairs of dancing shoes. Some of them are still with me. In 2014 I got a chance to move from Ukraine to America and live with my dad. When I was thinking about it I thought my dance career would be over and I would no longer be interested in dancing. When I moved to New York reality hit me. "Dance is too expensive Anastasiya. I do not know why you expected to go to dancing school here". My life definitively changed. I was depressed because I was taken away from something I love: my mother and dance.
Right now is 2018, and I am attending Leaders high school. It is my senior year. And last year one of my teachers decided to create a dance elective. This elective made me happy again. It is the place where I can show my skills and practice my moves and even create my own dances. I got better as a choreographer. I realized that money can make you happy, but your passion and love for something would make you the happiest person ever. Immigrant dancers are the happiest people ever when they are given a song and a place to dance. Believe me. 

– Anastasiya Rodchyn

Relationship:  Im/migrant Im/migrant