Marina Mazepa,a Ukrainian native who relocated to Los Angeles a year ago, performed on Season 14 of America’s Got Talent as a contortionist dancer act. She was born in Konotop, a tiny Ukrainian village with few dance or gymnastics programs, so she began learning folk dance at the age of five.
Marina’s dancing instructor encouraged her to enter the circus academy in Kiev, Ukraine, when she was in ninth grade. Her family was opposed to her dancing and preferred that she pursue a career as a lawyer. If she obtained a scholarship and passed the examinations, her mother agreed to accept her route. Marina was successful in both of her endeavours, passing the tests and receiving the scholarship!
Marina competed in “So You Think You Can Dance Ukraine” in 2016 and placed third. She was asked to participate in “France’s Got Talent” in 2017 and made it to the finals.
Marina recently began modelling with State Management, and her ambition is to become someone no one expects!
We had the chance to ask her a few questions and publish her incredible Audrey Hepburn homage editorial pictures.
When did you decide to pursue dance as a career?
I decided to pursue a dance career when I was fifteen. My family was against my being a dancer because they were very academic and thought a career in law would serve me better than a dance career. But I secretly prepared for the entrance exams to the Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts in Kiev. Only my mom and my first dance teacher knew that I was auditioning. They supported me through the process with one condition: if I passed the exams and got a scholarship I could continue my dance education. And that’s what I did!
How was the experience of moving from Ukraine to Los Angeles?
It was terrifying, exciting, and beguiling. My first destination in the States was Las Vegas. I went there to choreograph a major circus show in the style of Cirque du Soleil. After finishing my contract, I decided to move to Los Angeles and start over. I didn’t know English, which was a challenge. I auditioned for So You Think You Can Dance and America’s Got Talent and succeeded in both competitions, but decided to pursue America’s Got Talent. I got to the semi-finals in AGT. While I was competing, I was attending English school and working on my accent with a speech pathologist. I was also working as a model at the time. I had a lot on my plate—it wasn’t easy—but nothing good comes easy.
You often get a shock from the audience while dancing. Do you love seeing these reactions?
Absolutely! Yes. Those reactions charge me and encourage me to work more.
When performing, especially on America’s Got Talent, do you get nervous before? How do you deal with those nerves?
I was so nervous. Neither my friends nor my boyfriend could attend because they were out of town, so I was all by myself. I was more terrified to speak to the judges than I was to dance for them. I was afraid of making mistakes while speaking English. I thought people might make fun of me. In terms of my performance, I’ve learned how to manage my stress before dancing over the years. I go into this creature mode in which there is nothing but the stage and me. Throughout my performance I started hearing the reactions of the audience, which encouraged me and gave me a new wave of energy and excitement to perform.
You’ve gone on multiple competition shows like AGT. Do you have a natural competitiveness that helps in these shows?
I’ve always loved competition since I was a kid. As a little girl, doing ballet school in which you had to prove that you were good enough to be a solo dancer instilled discipline in me, which permeates every aspect of my life today. This helps me to carry myself through difficult situations and moments in my life. I think of life as a competitive sport that I have to play rather than watch from the sidelines.
Your dance is truly a unique art form. What inspires your choreography?
I’ve never felt like I was only a dancer. For a long time now, I have loved mixing contortion and dance. In the last four years, I’ve paired my abilities as a dancer with martial arts and acting to work in film. Being a dancer and choreographer was only the first part of my career, which has led me to where I am today. I’ve developed an ability to transform into otherworldly creatures. I love that I have that ability, but there is so much more that I’m working on right now in pursuing becoming an action star.
What drew you to now pursue modeling and acting?
I’ve always wanted to combine all my skills and passions as a performer—contortion, dance, martial arts, acting. Film is the perfect place to do that.
Now having had multiple acting roles, where do you hope to take your career as an actress?
I’m so fortunate that my unique skills opened the doors to the film industry for me. Using this opportunity, I’m working hard on my acting, martial arts, and language skills to become an actress. I see myself working in action movies as well as drama and comedy. I recently booked a TV show that I’m not allowed to talk about right now, but I’m very excited about it and the future of my career as an actress.
