Story & Lesson Highlights with Olga Shutiak of The Las Vegas Srip

We recently had the chance to connect with Olga Shutiak and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Olga, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
For me, it’s escaping to the mountains. Whether it’s a short hike or a long trek, being in nature helps me completely disconnect from the noise of everyday life. I lose track of time in the best way—just breathing fresh air, moving my body, and being surrounded by silence and beauty. It grounds me, clears my mind, and helps me reconnect with myself.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
There are people who choose a path in life, and there are those who seem to be born into one. I like to believe I am the second kind.

My name is Olga—a 27-year-old artist from Ukraine—and my journey began long before I even understood what the word “career” meant. At just three years old, my mother took my tiny hand and led me into a sports school. She wasn’t just guiding me into a gym; she was unknowingly leading me into my destiny. She became my first coach, my fiercest supporter, and to this day—my forever teacher.
Acrobatics wasn’t simply a sport for me—it was a language my body spoke long before I found words. I trained, competed, and eventually earned my place on the National Acrobatic Team of Ukraine. But even while standing on podiums and collecting medals, I felt a quiet voice inside me whispering that my journey didn’t end on competition floors. I wanted emotion, music, lights, storytelling.
Becoming a circus artist was my childhood dream. At 18, I took my first daring leap into the unknown and transitioned from athlete to artist. My first ever stage experience was beyond anything I could’ve imagined—it was on the set of Disney’s Dumbo movie. From rehearsing in dusty gym halls to performing under the cinematic magic of Tim Burton’s world—it felt like the universe saying, “Yes, you are exactly where you belong.”
From there, I became part of Essence, a hand-to-hand acrobatic trio, touring across Europe in the best circuses and Variete theaters. Every stage became home, every audience a new heartbeat to sync with. For the past three years, I have been traveling the world with Cirque du Soleil Bazzar, performing in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, the United States, and Spain.
People often ask, “What is it like, living such a life?” And I wish I could answer with one sentence—but how do you describe waking up in a new country every month, speaking through movement rather than words, watching a child’s eyes widen in wonder as you perform on stage? It is a life made of adrenaline and discipline, vulnerability and power, sweat and sparkles. It is magic woven through repetition. It is art born from muscle and soul.
To perform is to give a piece of yourself, but what you receive in return is far greater. The applause, yes—but more than that—the silent moments when you feel someone in the audience breathe with you. When your movement becomes their memory. That is why I do what I do.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I think the first time I ever felt truly powerful was not when I won a competition or received applause—it was much quieter than that. I was around six years old, practicing in the gym with my mom, who was also my coach. She asked me to try a new acrobatic element that scared me. I remember hesitating, feeling my knees shake, crying. But she looked at me with so much trust in her eyes—as if she already knew I could do it.

So I tried. I fell. I tried again. And then—on the third attempt—I did it.

There was no audience, no medals, no celebration. Just me, breathing heavily on the mat, realizing I had conquered something inside myself. That was the moment I learned that power isn’t about being stronger than others—it’s about being braver than your own fear.

Since then, every time I overcome something that once felt impossible, I return to that little girl in the gym. That’s where my power was born.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her: “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. You are already enough—even before the medals, before the applause, before the achievements. You are worthy not only when you succeed, but simply because you exist. Trust the journey. All the things you dream of will come, and even more—but don’t forget to enjoy the moments in between. Breathe. Laugh. Play. You don’t always have to be strong. You are allowed to be soft too.”

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
As a Ukrainian, one value I protect with all my heart is our profound sense of unity. Especially during the horrible times of war, I witnessed an incredible strength in our people—neighbors helping each other, strangers protecting strangers, entire communities acting as one heartbeat. Even when everything is taken away, we still find ways to give. That kind of solidarity is not just a value—it’s our identity.

I also hold close our resilience and quiet pride. Being Ukrainian means carrying both pain and dignity at the same time. We don’t break easily. We rebuild. We protect our land, our language, our traditions—not out of ego, but out of love.

And perhaps the most beautiful value we share is finding light even in darkness. In my culture, people sing in bomb shelters, share bread when there is little, and still find reasons to laugh. That is courage.

I am endlessly proud to be Ukrainian—not because of titles or history books, but because of the spirit I see in our people every day. It’s a pride I carry with me on every stage, in every country. It reminds me of who I am, and who I stand for.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop worrying about perfection and people’s expectations. I would no longer waste energy trying to fit into timelines—when I should achieve something, how I should appear, or what others might think of my choices.

I would stop stressing over things that don’t truly matter in the long run—small insecurities, overthinking the future, the fear of failing or being judged.

Instead, I would choose boldness over hesitation, presence over pressure, and joy over approval.

But the truth is—you never really know how much time you have left. None of us do. So why wait for a countdown to start living fully?

It’s better to choose your own path now, follow it passionately, and stay persistent about what your heart truly wants. Don’t be scared. Be brave enough to honor your dreams—even when others don’t understand them. And most importantly, enjoy the present moment and appreciate it deeply, because this moment is all we truly own.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/essence_olga_shutiak/
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