Meet Anya

Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Anya’s family immigrated to New York City in 1993. Following her brother, Eugene, Anya began her dance training at age ten, studying International Latin ballroom and becoming part of the first generation of child ballroom dancers in America. Anya won numerous national and international titles as a competitive Latin dancer, starred in the Las Vegas residency of Burn the Floor, and was a principal dancer on the Dancing With the Stars tour.

Anya transitioned from ballroom to salsa after discovering the vast world of street and social dance styles while working at Dancesport Dance Studio in Manhattan. It was a decision she made because she fell in love with the idea of dance being fun and accessible to all, but also saw a gap in the education being offered and wanted to help fill it. Using her technical vocabulary and dedication to the art of social dancing and culture, Anya began dancing salsa in 2007 and became an undefeated two-time World Champion with then-partner Luis Aguilar from 2009 to 2010.

Anya’s understanding of technique, passion for teaching, elegant lines, fierce stage presence, and competition experience quickly made her a sought-after teacher, choreographer, performer, and adjudicator at festivals and events worldwide. Her unique ballroom experience also contributed to making her one of the first competition ambassadors for the community of Afro-Latin dance. Anya continues to work within the salsa and bachata community, traveling to national and international festivals as a master teacher, performer, and judge. She has also had the immense honor of performing with the Mambo King himself, Mr. Eddie Torres.

Often referred to as the teacher of teachers and maker of champions, Anya has single-handedly trained more than 20 world champions in salsa and bachata. Her work spans soloists, couples, and teams across all genres and age ranges. Her secret to success is compassion, clear, kind communication, and meeting her students with love and encouragement while developing their authenticity, movement mechanics, and unique magic from within to elevate their stage presence. Anya’s focus and ability to nurture the athlete, the artist, and the human within each person she works with have made her an unparalleled coach across many industries.

Because Anya is known for elevating dancers and performers to their next level, she often works with the top dancers in the industry, helping lead them to Broadway debuts, television appearances, the launch of their own dance schools, professional careers, championship wins, and the accomplishment of their biggest goals.

Anya is currently an international dance educator, judge, and performer specializing in teacher training, competition coaching, performance development, and mentorship for Latin dancers. She is the creator of multiple online training programs and the founder of a global mentorship community, Champion’s Club, supporting artists, athletes, and educators in developing technical mastery, creative expression, and authentic communication.

Anya is also a transformative life coach, intuitive energy reader, spiritual healer, and mentor. She works with people at any stage of life who are seeking transformation, personal development, change, or the achievement of a meaningful goal. Anya often says that when a person is truly ready to have the big thing they’ve been dreaming about, they tend to find her as a coach.

Anya’s Teaching Framework

Whether it’s specific to dance or not, Anya works within a framework of helping someone develop from the inside out. Holding space for the athlete, the artist, and the human within each client, her expertise will help you develop the mastery you seek and achieve the goals you’re aiming for. When your mind, body, spirit, and emotions are in harmony, you will find yourself authentically aligned and fully expressed on and off the dance floor.

  • Musicality, creativity, and authentic expression. Anya nurtures and expands this dimension.

  • Technique, movement mechanics, and body awareness. This is where rigour and artistry meet.

  • Human nervous system regulation, performance mindset, and personal development

    Anya works in registers most people cannot see, but everyone in the room always feels. This is where the magic lives.

“Your essence is rooted in your authenticity. I will help you see your magic so you can stand in it fully. ”
— Anya Katsevman