Svitlana lived in America even before the start of the full-scale invasion. But she admitted that she felt guilty because she was not in Ukraine at such a difficult time. Today, Svitlana reminds the American public about Ukraine with her work, talks about what hurts, helps the army, and is proud of her father, who serves in the Armed Forces.
Read about how Svitlana Rogozhina was able to build a career and business in the USA, what inspires her, and what her next goals are in an exclusive interview with Circus Life.
Svitlana, there is now a 10-hour time difference and thousands of miles between us. You moved from Ukraine to the USA. Why did you choose America?
In fact, everything happened spontaneously. I did not expect to move here. I had contracts all over the world; I visited 50 countries. And then I was offered a contract in the U.S. I hesitated, but still decided to go on a six-month contract.
And a month later, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Everything was closed, and most of the artists were sent home. But the producers of the show offered me to stay. I had the main role in the show – I worked both as an aerial gymnast and as a dancer. Therefore, it was difficult to find someone to take my place. Eventually, the show was revived, and I liked it more and more in the States.
You know, I’m 28 years old, and I want to settle somewhere. I have always liked the circus, but there were not as many opportunities in Ukraine as here. Later, I went on the show “America’s Got Talent” and became famous in Las Vegas. I made my name; later, I decided to found my own studio.
And now I can’t even imagine moving somewhere else. Everyone knows me here; I have already established connections with children. Nonetheless, I really miss Ukraine; I want to visit my homeland and see my grandmother, my father.
You had the experience of performing in 50 countries. What is the difference between the circus industry in Europe and America?
I have the feeling that there is a different audience here. When I performed in Europe, people over 50 usually came to the variety and dinner shows. They have status and money, their focus is not exclusively on the show, but on dinners, meetings, etc.
In America, young people come to the show not to eat but to watch the show and support the artist. And, of course, this happens in Las Vegas; there are 137 different shows to choose from, everyone wants to be the best. And you work a lot more than in Europe; a lot more competition, so these shows feel different to me.
And where do you get ideas for your props? First, there was a chandelier; now we saw your performance involving a bathtub and a rope.
My brain works like a dancer’s. Dancers have a lot of competition. You know that you always need to be unique, to stand out from everyone. That’s why I didn’t think about the canvases and the ring because everyone works on them.
After our joint number on the chandelier, I decided to do a solo number on the rope. Because in Las Vegas, maybe two more people work on the rope, it’s really unique.
Your studio Dance & Aerial Addiction – a combination of choreography and aerial gymnastics. How did the idea of opening your own studio come, and is there a demand for it in the States?
After America’s Got Talent, I had surgery, and the doctors said I wouldn’t be able to do aerial gymnastics again. I just thought: “What to do if I can’t dance or fly in the air.” And I had to work at the reception desk at the Hilton hotel for half a year. It was tough; I missed the show, this adrenaline.
Then I started thinking about starting a business while I was still remembered from America’s Got Talent. I took my mother and sister, and I had to think about how to develop financially. Made a business plan for a children’s dance studio and started sending it to all potential investors – other businesses, even golf clubs.
I collected a little money. I found the premises quite easily; my sister used to go to a studio nearby, and the former owners agreed to sell me the business.
I bought the necessary props, and from August 1, 2023, we opened with aerial gymnastics and dancing. All my classes are full, and the children just love to work.
Svitlana, have you thought about going further and creating your own agency or production company?
I don’t see myself as an agent because I don’t feel comfortable making money from the same artists as me. I want to do something for artists, and my dream is to open a show. I really want my little cabaret or variety show, but not in Las Vegas; I’m fine here as long as I have a show job, but I want to live near the ocean.
I dream of moving to San Diego in California, where all the tourists go for the weekend. And open something like a European dinner show there, which will work from Thursday to Saturday.
When we saw your business card on “America’s Got Talent,” your Instagram, your numbers – we were amazed and proud of your stance on the situation in Ukraine.
Since you live here, across the ocean, you are doing an important thing – you constantly remind people of what is happening in Ukraine, and this is very valuable. Why is this important to you, and has the attitude of Americans to the war in Ukraine changed over these two years?
My father joined the army in 2016. My family has always been patriots. Even before the war, I always told my parents that I would go and perform abroad, and they always answered: “What about Ukraine? You’re Ukrainian.”
I love Ukraine very much, and I would never have become so if I had not grown up there. On the other hand, I always wanted to share our culture with the world.
When the full-scale war began, I was in such a depression for two months; I did not perform anywhere; I was just trying to bring my family here. I felt guilty that I was not at home, not with my father. And even when my mother and sister explained that it is now dangerous in Ukraine, I still felt this guilt.
And my father always tells me: “I am very proud of you; you glorify Ukraine, you just go and tell people what we need, help us from there.” And when I auditioned for America’s Got Talent, I was supposed to tell a story about my past relationships, but I called the producer and said I was going to talk about the war. However, they did not want to go into politics at all.
They cut almost my entire interview, which we recorded for two days. They even changed the song of the number. It was in support of Ukraine, but in English. I was shocked, of course. But then she reminded herself that this is television, and you just have to accept it.
Then I was invited to Las Vegas for a big show in support of Ukraine. The organisers divided all collected funds into seven parts for each Ukrainian artist. And I sent my part to where my father serves.
This concert was a turning point for me. I realized that I can no longer harbor guilt; I must forgive myself for what happened and do everything to support Ukraine.
A lot of Americans came to that concert; everyone donated money to the Ukrainian army, and I just couldn’t get the ants off my skin. Then I decided that I should be here and just show the Americans what we Ukrainians are and what we can do.
I changed my studio colours to yellow and blue. It was not clear how, for example, the Russians would react to this because they also live here. But everyone respects Ukraine and the Ukrainian army so much that no contradictions arose.
And now, I continue to do everything in my power to constantly remind the world about Ukraine and the war Russia has waged against it.
Thank you for your work and the mission you have undertaken. You are doing an important thing; art is a powerful tool to broadcast the right messages around the world!
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