Meet Elya Osmanova | Dancer, Performer & Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elya Osmanova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elya, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
Being an artist is all about risk taking in my opinion. Everything you do, every step you take is unknown. I’ve moved out of my home country 3 times in order to follow my dreams. I think that’s the biggest risk anybody can take; to start from scratch. Risk-taking has brought me to where I am today, and it’s a constant reminder that without it, I cannot grow. More than anything, taking risks has given me resilience, new perspectives, and the courage to grow both as an artist and as a person..

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist who creates work across dance, theater, language, and storytelling. I’m fascinated by the relationship between movement and language—how each language shapes the body differently. I am multilingual and I find within that I have multiple personalities. I am in a constant exploration between sound & movement as well as different art forms. I believe that every form of expression has a thread that ties it to another, and my work is often about weaving those threads together. I think what sets me apart is that I don’t see boundaries between disciplines; I treat them as different languages that can speak to each other, creating an immersive story.

I don’t think any journey is ever truly easy, but I believe that if you approach it with curiosity, it becomes ten times more exciting. Not easier, but definitely more interesting—and that’s the mindset I’ve carried with me.

Immigration has been a big part of my life and storytelling. I’ve had to start over many times, even within my own country, and that experience deeply shaped me. As a child, those transitions weren’t easy, and as an adult, one of the biggest challenges has been the constant process of beginning again.

Professionally, I got to where I am today because I made the decision to fully commit to movement as my career. My background is in film—I did my bachelor’s in it—but after graduating, I realized dance was what I wanted to pursue full time. That decision led me move to New York. Choosing to pursue dance professionally at 23 wasn’t easy, especially when many of my peers had been training much longer. But in a way, starting later became my strength: I knew I didn’t have time to waste on insecurities, and I had nothing to lose. I was very realistic about where I was, and I worked incredibly hard to catch up. I’m proud of the work I put in and where I am today because of that.

Right now, I’m especially excited about digging deeper into my project Wanderlust, a multidisciplinary work that combines poetry, dance, music, and visuals. At its core, Wanderlust is about home, immigration, and belonging. It’s the beginning of a long-term journey where I’m building bridges between my own culture and other cultures around the world. With this project, my goal is to collaborate with artists using their national traditional instruments, immersing my own cultural movement and music, and finding ways to fuse our traditions to create dialogue and build community. I’m passionate about creating shared spaces of exchange and connection, and I feel this work will continue to grow and evolve with me over time.

What I want the world to know is that my goal is to travel the world and share my art with as many communities as possible, while also learning and growing together with them. I’m not only interested in bringing my own work, but also in immersing myself in the artistic practices of the cultures I visit. My hope is that people can connect with this journey, join me in the exchange, and become part of the creative community we build together

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is the importance of community. Without community, you can’t go far—this journey is never just about one person. That’s also how I see my art. With Wanderlust, for example, my goal is to build connections between myself and artists from different cultures, creating something bigger than any of us individually. For me, art is about building communities across the world, and that’s what continues to guide me.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting, I’d make sure she got a true taste of New York—its culture, food, music, and energy. I’d start by taking her around my own neighborhood, Lefferts Gardens, and to Prospect Park since I live right across from it. It’s one of my favorite spots, and I know she’d love it too.

I’d take her to a jazz club like Bar Bayeux, which isn’t super well-known but has amazing music and energy, and I know lots of people in the jazz scene there. Of course, we’d hit some classic spots too—Central Park, a Broadway show, and maybe a museum like MoMA. Queens would be on the list for authentic food, because the city’s culinary diversity is one of the best parts of New York.

I’d also just make time to wander—walking the streets, people-watching, and soaking up the vibe. Washington Square Park is perfect for that, where you can watch performers, dancers, and just the incredible energy of the city. For me, part of the fun is showing how New York itself is full of creativity, culture, and interesting people—it’s an experience you feel as much as see.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family, my friends & the people I’ve met across the globe who’ve inspired me & believed in me.

Website: www.elyaos.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elyaos/?hl=en

Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@elyaos3791

Image Credits
The first photo : Jake Saner The rest of the photos : Juba ( thedisciplemodule)