Dance For Self-Expression And Liberation
Guest post by Natalia Barulich
ABOUT ME
I am Natalia Barulich. I grew up in the Bay Area of California and trained with Sarah Jane Maesor & Ayako Takahashi. I have been dancing since I was 3 years old, now I am 18 years old. And I am a Capricorn.
At age 15, I moved to Washington D.C. to dance with the prestigious Kirov Academy of Ballet under the training of Jacqueline Achmedowa. I then went on to dance with the Diablo Ballet as an apprentice, and this past year I danced in the corps de ballet with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami.
I have attended summer programs at the San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre of NYC, The Kirov Academy, Joffrey Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Valentina Kozlova’s Dance Conservatory of NY & the Royal Academy of Dance. I have won top awards in competitions all over the country & 3rd place in the Youth America Grand Prix in Dallas, TX in ’09. I received Top 12 in both the Classical & Contemporary categories for the Youth America Grand Prix Regionals in both 2007 & 2009.
DANCE FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND LIBERATION
I have danced pretty much every style from ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, hip hop, African, salsa, ballroom, etc. I love the way it makes me feel. You can express yourself without words but through the movements. You can be having the worst day.. & when you go and dance it seems like nothing in the world is wrong.
When I dance by myself and when I dance in front of others, I feel the exact same. I truly dance like no one is watching. I only focus on myself in a class, that’s what you’re there for..improving yourself, no one else.
Music is the key to good dance. We move to the beat and the rhythm & without it, the dancing isn’t together. My favorite dance music would be classical since I am a professional ballerina & we dance to that. But outside of the studio, I love electronic/ house music to dance to. That type of music gives me a natural energy… it’s amazing.
Through dancing, I feel a sense of liberation. Sometimes it feels as if you’re flying.
I have a website http://www.nataliabarulich.com. It’s still under construction at the moment, but will be alive soon.
. I agree with your comments about Natalia. Besides, I kind of feel everyone is a dancer inside, although not everyone can go on stage to perform. See how the little kids shake their bodies following music without any training or being coerced by parents. 
Natalia u r a beautiful woman;) I too have had the chance to try ballet myself. Believe me, the only reason i kept doing it was because it was so damn challenging. I love it. And you are right, its amazing to one self. I dont quiet feel like i am flying, ill stumble and fall on floor;). I have a lot of respect for you and dancers in general. I hope you make it BIG!!!