– Svitlana, how did you choose Austin? What do you like most about this city?
In December 2022, my husband, our two children, and I arrived in the United States through the U4U program. A month later, we moved to Austin to settle here permanently. We didn’t know which city would be best for living, so we trusted our friends’ advice. They recommended Austin as a growing, musical, family-friendly, and relatively safe city.
We like Austin primarily for its weather — I’ve always dreamed of living somewhere without winter. Overall, it’s a beautiful and cozy city with its own history and the vibrant atmosphere of Texas.
– Please tell us about your profession and your work.
Since childhood, I have been involved in various types of dance. At the age of twenty, I became passionate about oriental dance, which led me to create my dream costumes and eventually turned into my life’s work.
In 2005, I graduated from Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU).
For many years, I independently studied the technology of costume making.
In 2017, I completed a formal professional retraining program in “Stage Costume Design” at the Institute of Fashion, Design, and Technology in Moscow, earning a qualification certificate. This allowed me to deepen my understanding of design principles, develop costume sketches, and master fabric selection, accessories, and production technologies.
I create costumes for both adults and children — folkloric, classical, and show styles. My skills enable me to work not only with bellydance performers but also with dancers and athletes in ballroom dancing, cheerleading, and figure skating. The range of directions is practically unlimited.
In addition to costumes, I have developed my own line of stage jewelry: earrings, necklaces, bracelets, belts, and hair accessories. These pieces are valued for their quality, aesthetics, comfort during performance, and perfect compatibility with costumes. My jewelry is suitable not only for the stage but also for special occasions such as weddings, theatre outings, and corporate events.
– Do you teach others the secrets of your arts and craft?
Yes, of course! Many women are eager to learn how to make their own stage costumes — which fabrics are suitable, which accessories look best on stage, and so on. I have extensive experience conducting such workshops in Germany and Ukraine, where I lectured as a guest speaker.
Today, I not only create custom-made costumes but also teach others: I publish educational materials on Amazon, sell products through Etsy and my own website, conduct master classes at festivals, and participate as an invited lecturer and speaker. I already have several invitations to both private training events and large-scale festivals.
Throughout my design career, I have studied sewing and decoration techniques, modeling principles, and the specifics of stage image and composition. I have also taken part in several design competitions and received titles such as “Couturier of the Year 2015” and “Best Designer 2019.” Additionally, I serve as a judge at dance and design competitions.
– Does it make a difference what costume a performer wears on stage — a richly decorated designer piece or something simpler? Or is the main thing the dance technique?
It makes a huge difference. I believe that 80% of a dancer’s success depends on the costume they wear on stage.
Firstly, the performer feels much more confident.
Secondly, the audience intuitively — and the judges professionally — evaluate the dancer’s appearance.
Even if a client has a limited budget, I always find a design solution — an element to highlight or emphasize. Of course, it is much easier to work with an unlimited budget, and the results are spectacular.
I am always very careful in selecting fabrics and accessories, which is why my costumes help dancers achieve greater success on stage.
– Tell us about the geography of your clients. Who do you work with?
I work with artists and dancers from all over the world, fulfilling custom orders and gaining practical experience. My costume and jewelry collections have been showcased multiple times at international dance festivals in Germany, Poland, Ukraine, and Spain. In the United States, several of my fashion shows have already taken place — in Orlando and Los Angeles.
Many of the dancers I have designed for are internationally recognized. For example:
World Champion Marta Korzun (Italy, 2011),
Vice World Champion Anastasia Nikolenko (Kurilenko after marriage, Spain, 2009), and
Absolute World Champion Victoria Boldyreva (Hungary, 2013).
Today, I collaborate with private ballroom dance ateliers and a dance studio in Austin. I travel to dance festivals across various states, exchange experience, and promote my creations.
Contact information:
Svitlana Zralko
Tel. (561)726-0328
Website: www.zralko.com
Business card: www.designer.zralko.com
Instagram: @zralko.costume
Email: svetlik.geol@gmail.com
Publisher: Russian Cultural Center