Today we’d like to introduce you to Asiya Khasnutdinova.
Asiya, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I grew up in Arkhangelsk Russia, in the Arctic Circle where summers are colder than Atlanta winters. I was an incredibly active child and my parents quickly realized that my high-level energy needed to be paired with a hobby. Since the only options available were figure skating and hockey, I quickly ended up on ice, figure-skating. I have to say that I’m a true athlete and with all my hard work and dedication, I quickly became good at it and started opening shows for some of the best figure skaters in the world. Unfortunately, four years and two lost teeth later (baby teeth), my Dad put his foot down and suggested that I try something a bit less risky involving less tumbles, injuries and lost teeth. My Mom took me to a small dance studio and that’s how my dance journey began.
I fell in love with dance immediately, especially Latin. It’s fun, spicy and extremely exciting which instantly takes you miles away from the snow and cold climate of my home town. At that point, I knew that dance was my passion and that’s what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
I competed professionally for 15 years in Russia, former Soviet Union countries, Europe and the U.S. I became 5 Times Northwest Russia Latin and Ballroom Dance Champion, Semi-Finalist in Russian Open Latin Dance Championship and placed highly in every competition including top 20 girls on the Fox hit TV show and cultural phenomenon ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’ I also performed in many professional shows and programs. Some noteworthy events include performing in front of the Royal Russian Tsar Family and Miss Russia Contest.
At the age of 16, I won the Future Leaders Exchange Program and came to the US to study. My focus was on business and finance. I could never imagine that my work could be my passion, so I pursued finance thinking that at some point, I would need a “real job” and dance would only be a hobby. I spent about seven years in the financial industry working in Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Bank of America and others. I received my MBA which gave me strength, imagination and confidence to pursue entrepreneurship and combine my love and passion for dance with my business background. Everyone thought I was crazy leaving a stable corporate job at Merrill Lynch to open up a dance studio but fast forward ten years and I’m the happiest I’ve been and I never looked back. That was the best decision in my life. Scary? Yes! Worth it? 200%!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Life of a business owner is never smooth haha! Were there struggles? Oh my god! How much time you got…. After I left my corporate job at Merrill Lynch and opened up my dance studio, my first “group class” had two people in it – my neighbor and my Mom. So you can only imagine the horror I went through thinking I made the biggest mistake of my life. I was up all night thinking I should be interviewing and pleading to have my old job back. Thankfully my parents gave me confidence to stay the course. They have been my biggest supporters from the beginning. And it’s only because of my family I was able to push through and get to where I am today. It’s crazy to believe that I went from 2 people in a group class to now over 200,000 subscribers on YouTube from all over the world who watch and dance with me.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Valeo Dance & Fitness Studio – what should we know?
VALEO, from Latin meaning “to be healthy, strong and feel good”…
Valeo Dance & Fitness Studio offers group dance fitness classes, private ballroom dance lessons and wedding dance packages for newly engaged couples and their families.
VALEO, from Latin meaning “to be healthy, strong and feel good”, is a method created by a mother-daughter duo that combines intense dance fitness cardio with Valeo’s “signature” weighted hula hoops, resistance bands, free weights, fitness drumming and balance balls all while toning every muscle fiber to get the ultimate body. Asiya Khasnutdinova with 20-year dance and fitness experience joined forces with Svetlana Khasnutdinova, MD, Ph.D. with 30-year medical expertise and understanding of body types, muscular structure and physiology, to create Valeo Dance Fitness method using innovative and trendsetting techniques that help women across the board achieve healthy, strong and toned bodies.
Valeo Dance Fitness has received endless praise. SELF magazine made Valeo Dance Fitness TOP 10 BEST cardio dance workouts in USA and called it a “must-try class”. Valeo Dance Fitness has over 200K subscribers on YouTube with over 40M views worldwide, has appeared in numerous magazines, blogs and events. Local celebrities, business professionals and moms swear by this method because it does wonders to their bodies. We empower women to be strong, confident and healthy. At only six years old, VALEO is just beginning a journey of endless possibilities.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family. I would be nowhere without them. My Dad Lyusyen Khasnutdinov and my Mom Svetlana Khasnutdinova – words aren’t enough to express my gratitude for their confidence in me. They pick me up when I’m doubting myself and they cheer the loudest when WE succeed.
Pricing:
- Group Dance Fitness Workout | First Class Complimentary and after there are options of class cards $180 and monthly memberships $99
- Private Wedding Dance Packages | We offer a variety of options from First Dance Crash Course $150 for our busy brides to family combo package $480 that include First Dance, Father-Daughter and Mother-Son to our 8 lesson package $620 that helps couple prepare a YouTube sensation worthy First Dance “Show Stopper”
- Private Ballroom Dance Packages | Range from intro packages of 3 sessions $260 to 9 sessions packs where you can select from different dance styles to master $675
Contact Info:
- Address: 2715 Peachree Road NE
Atlanta GA 30305 - Website: www.valeoclub.com
- Phone: 404-513-3334
- Email: info@valeoclub.com
- Instagram: @valeoclub
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/valeoclub
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/valeo-dance-fitness-studio-atlanta
- Other: www.youtube.com/user/valeoclub
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