Meet Saskia Raparanta

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

Hi Saskia, how do you think about risk?
I think about risk as choosing growth over comfort, not recklessness but trusting yourself enough to move before everything feels guaranteed. Most of the meaningful moments in my life and career have come from taking risks, especially the ones that felt scary at the time.

In my career, taking risks has meant putting myself out there creatively, teaching, choreographing, building community, and pursuing opportunities even when I didn’t know the exact outcome. Moving toward bigger goals like expanding my work internationally and pursuing my O-1 visa has required a lot of faith, persistence, and vulnerability. Every time I’ve taken a leap, it’s pushed me into a new version of myself.

Personally, risk has taught me confidence. It’s shown me that even if things don’t go perfectly, I can adapt and keep moving. I’d rather take a chance on something I deeply want than stay in the same place wondering “what if.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Dance has always been more than performance for me it’s been a way to connect, empower, and tell stories through movement. What sets me apart as an artist is my versatility and the way I blend technical training with emotion, confidence, and community. I’ve trained across multiple styles including hip-hop, Afro, dancehall, contemporary, jazz, ballet, and heels, which has allowed me to move fluidly between commercial work, live performance, film, and teaching.

Professionally, I’ve had the opportunity to work on projects with major studios including Warner Bros, Disney, and Netflix, while also performing alongside incredible artists and creatives in both live entertainment and music spaces. But beyond the credits, what I’m most proud of is building SSS — Sweet, Selective, Sassy. My Toronto-based heels training program and dance collective. Creating SSS gave me the opportunity to build a space where dancers, especially women, could grow in confidence, artistry, and self-expression while feeling supported by a strong community. Watching my students evolve into powerful, fearless performers has honestly been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

Getting to where I am today definitely wasn’t easy. Dance is an industry that demands consistency, resilience, and belief in yourself even during moments of uncertainty. There were times where opportunities felt far away, finances were stressful, rejection happened, or I questioned if I was doing enough. But I learned that growth comes from continuing to show up even when things feel uncomfortable or unclear. I overcame challenges by staying disciplined, investing in my craft, surrounding myself with inspiring people, and trusting that every experience was shaping me into a stronger artist and leader.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that success is not only about talent it’s about authenticity, work ethic, and the impact you leave on people. I want the world to know that my brand and story are rooted in empowerment, confidence, femininity, and community. I want people to feel something when they watch me perform or take my classes. Whether on stage, on screen, or in a studio, my goal has always been to inspire people to take up space unapologetically and step into the strongest version of themselves.

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 was visiting Toronto for a week, I’d want them to experience the mix of culture, nature, nightlife, and creativity that makes the city feel so alive. Toronto has so many different energies depending on where you are, and I’d definitely build the trip around that.

We’d start in Kensington Market because it captures so much of the city’s personality. Vintage shops, cafés, music, art, and people from every background all blending together. It’s one of my favourite places to just walk around, grab food, thrift, and soak in the creative energy. From there we’d probably head over to Toronto Waterfront and spend the evening by the harbour watching the sunset with the skyline in the background. In the summer especially, the waterfront feels magical.

One full day would definitely be dedicated to Centre Island. I think taking the ferry across gives you one of the best views of the city. We’d bike around, relax by the water, have a picnic, and just enjoy how peaceful it feels compared to downtown.

For nature and views, I’d take them to Riverdale Park East at sunset because it has one of the most beautiful skyline views in the city. It’s such a simple but special Toronto experience. People sitting on the hill with friends, music playing, and everyone just enjoying the moment together. Another must see would be Scarborough Bluffs. The views there honestly don’t even feel like Toronto. It’s one of the most peaceful and beautiful spots in the city and somewhere I always recommend to people visiting.

We’d also spend time in Yorkville for a completely different vibe! more elevated, stylish, and luxurious. I love the cafés, restaurants, and overall atmosphere there. It’s perfect for dressing up a little, having a nice dinner, and walking around the city at night.

And of course, the trip would include dance classes, live music, good food from different cultures, and late night conversations somewhere downtown because that’s such a huge part of Toronto too. What I love most about this city is that it feels incredibly diverse and inspiring — there’s always something happening, always someone creative to meet, and every neighborhood feels like its own world.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d definitely dedicate this shoutout to my SSS Heels community and all of my students. They deserve so much credit in my story because they’ve grown with me every step of the way. Watching these women show up week after week, push past fear, build confidence, and support one another has been one of the most inspiring parts of my career.
SSS became so much more than just a heels training program, it turned into a space filled with hard working, talented, passionate people who continuously remind me why I love what I do. Their trust, energy, vulnerability, and dedication motivate me constantly and inspire me to keep evolving both as a dancer and as a teacher.
I also want to give love to the mentors, choreographers, friends, and family members who believed in me before things looked established. Having people encourage my vision early on gave me the confidence to take risks, pursue opportunities, and build something meaningful within the dance community.

Website: https://saskiaraparanta.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saskiaraparanta/

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/askiaaparanta

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saskiaraparanta

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@saskiaraparanta

Image Credits
Lee Gumbs
Aidan Tooth