How did you get your stage name? 

Someone once told me, “You’re a sun disguised as a moon.” I found that very beautiful. I feel like the sun itself. I love the sun and everything it stands for. That’s where “Sunny” comes from. “Rockstar” comes from my father. He had a rock band in the 2000s. He passed on his love of performing and his somewhat rebellious spirit. I started performing when I was only 18, and I was just doing my own thing!

How did you get into dance?

My story with dance is closely tied to the country where I was born. In Ukraine, like in all post-Soviet countries, the system is very strict for professional dancers. From a young age, I told my family I was going to be a prima ballerina. I was completely convinced of this, so I started taking ballet classes. In my country, you’re only allowed to study ballet at conservatories up to the age of 10. After that, if you want to pursue a dance career, you have only one chance: When you’re 10, you have to go through an audition process for the country’s only advanced ballet school. During the assessment, their primary focus is your physique. They believe that certain bodies are naturally built for ballet. If they feel that your body would have to go through too much strain for this career, you don’t make it past the first stage. That’s what happened to me. I kept dancing anyway because I was passionate about it. I started exploring other styles like contemporary, jazz, and even acrobatics. That led me to start considering a completely different career path. Then, when I was 16, war broke out in Ukraine. At the time, I was living in Kyiv with my grandmother, my aunt, and my cousin. My mother had already been in France for six years. We all set off to join her in Avignon. The first year was tough. I lost all my bearings. But then I discovered the dance troupes at the Avignon Conservatory and the Opéra Grand Avignon. That’s when I realized that here in France, being a professional dancer was actually possible for me. I felt free to pursue my dream, so I went for it!

We’d love to be a fly on the wall at a Crazy Horse Paris audition. Can you tell us about yours? 

I auditioned for Crazy Horse Paris twice. The first time, I was barely 18 and had never danced in heels. I bought my first pair of heels specifically for my Crazy Horse Paris audition. I was really naive and hadn’t prepared myself properly. I hadn’t grasped the venue’s international prestige or the extremely high level of dance required. There were more than 200 dancers, and I still made it past the first round! In the end, I wasn’t selected, but they didn’t close the door on me. They encouraged me to keep training. A year later, I came back for another audition after going through some serious dance training and solid cabaret experience in Sète. This time, I made it!

Who is Sunny Rockstar?

Sunny Rockstar is still very new. She’s only been around for a few months, so she’s still discovering herself. Right now, on stage, Sunny Rockstar is just being herself. The stage is the only place where I can truly be myself, more so than in my daily life. So, I think Sunny will develop her own personality over time, but she’ll always be a strong reflection of who I truly am.

What’s your pre-show ritual?

It’s a combination of warm-up exercises and meditation. It lets me feel every part of my body to the rhythm of my breathing. Everyday life brings its share of thoughts, doubts, and frustrations. I clear my head of all that before the curtain goes up because I want to be fully present and celebrate every second on stage, where nothing else exists.

Which women inspire you?

The women in my family. I grew up in Ukraine, raised by a family of strong women who fought their battles. My great-grandmother, for example, lived through two world wars and famine. I feel the strength and support of the women in my family in every moment of my life, even during the darkest times. Remembering them reminds me daily of who I am, where I come from, and the strength that flows through my veins.

What’s the message you hope to convey to the audience when you dance?

Follow your heart, not your head. The only thing that should guide our choices in life is the pursuit of our own happiness.

Which act of the Totally Crazy! show do you think is most mesmerizing?

The solo that made the biggest impression on me in the Totally Crazy! show was Striptease moi. I love the chemistry between the two dancers–the subtle interplay between masculine and feminine energy. It’s an ultra-glamorous number with a powerful message. It tells the story of how men and women feel the same emotions but express them differently. It’s the language that changes, not the essence. It’s beautiful, and it’s a number I’d love to explore myself.

Photos: Léon Prost, Marian Furnica