Liza's road: three years from her first step to three world gold medals

In July 2023 a mother brought a little girl to our centre — Liza Sahalai. An ordinary first class, careful first steps in the studio. Exactly three years later, in July 2026, Liza walked onto the stage of The Convention Centre Dublin — the Dance World Cup world final, as part of the Ukrainian national team.

Three golds in one final

• 🥇 "Hunting" — 1st place, 94.5 points among 16 dancers from 12 countries (choreographer: Hanna Kyrychyshyna);
• 🥇 "Painting the World" — 1st place, 3.7 points clear of silver (choreographer: Yuniia Furman);
• 🥇 "Shadows of Forgotten Names" — 1st place in a trio with Mira Zakharova and Alisa Stepanova, 92.3 points — the highest score in the category (choreographer: Katia Mun).

And one more thing: of all the children across the three sections, she alone was invited to the exclusive Classical Grand Finals, where only the very best of the best are selected. Her teacher says that recognition is worth even more than the gold.

Behind every medal, daily work

Three years running — classes, rehearsals, first performances, first tears and first victories. Alongside her the whole way: Liza's teacher Yuniia Furman and the IDC team — choreography, acrobatics, acting. We do not wait for "ready-made" children; we grow them.

"This win was deserved! We watched the entire broadcast and every competitor — she really was the best!" — Kateryna Badikova, founder of IDC.

Thank you to Liza's family — ambassadors of our centre — for their trust and daily support. Nine more IDC dancers represented Ukraine in Dublin alongside Liza, and as of 11 July Ukraine ranked 5th in the world — 3 of the country's 5 gold medals were won by our children.

Want your child to take their first step? A trial class costs UAH 300. Already dancing? Book an audition.

Read also: a conversation with Liza's mother

We recorded a long conversation with Anna, Liza's mother — six honest stories about the road you never see in the score sheets:

• "You must be raising a ballerina": how it all began
• "I want the Ukrainian anthem to play so badly": the dream that led to three golds
• The biggest picture in Dublin: the final's backstage through a mother's eyes

The same Dublin from the choreographer's side — on discipline instead of "natural gifts", the anthem, and what turned out to be hardest of all: "Dublin from the inside".