From a young age, Tetiana was surrounded by dance. With a multi-talented family of musicians and dancers, she demonstrated a sense of rhythm and flexibility that made her parents take notice. While they were not the wealthiest, they encouraged Tetiana to pursue her dream in every way possible.
At age 6, Korobka enrolled at the Viklen dance studio in her hometown of Ternopil, Ukraine. She joined an ensemble that performed at many cultural festivals throughout the country. Tetiana’s has worked with many famous Ukrainian artists.
She always wrote “dance teacher” in her school questionnaires as her future occupation. To her, it was as simple as falling asleep with a dream and waking up with a purpose–the path to realizing her wildest dream. But of course, there were challenges ahead, and Tetiana had the strength and will to move forward.
Korobka began her studies at Ternopil National Economic University. At age 18, she began earning an income as a professional dancer–and her dreams began to metamorphose. What if, perhaps, she could teach as well? She had long wanted to spread her love of dance to others.
Her wish came true in 2010, her third year at university. Offered a job as a dance teacher at a local studio, Tetiana began teaching hip-hop, street jazz, and disco to children from 4 to 18 years old. Being only a few years older than her eldest students, she discovered the pride in showing others that believing in yourself reaps many rewards. Within four years, it was time to open a studio of her own.
Star Dance was the first modern dance studio in Ternopil, run by Korobka and another choreographer. Within the first year, her students won third place at the Ukrainian Championship in Kyiv, and enrollment in Star Dance swelled with eager young kids.
Several public schools in Ternopil asked Tetiana to become a choreography teacher. This was a new and exciting challenge for her, as she taught tango and hip-hop, modern contemporary, and even folk dances for shows each new holiday. By 2016, her studio boasted over 250 students.
Star Dance opened two branches in 2016, with Tetiana Korobka managing one of the locations. She devoted her full attention to the studio and her students. This personal attention led to many awards and recognition, most significantly a 1st place at the European Championships, with various students winning awards for their talent.
Tetiana was recognized by the UFSA dance organization as a top judge. She participated in over ten national competitions and contributed her unique expertise. She was so well regarded in the industry that she was tapped to co-organize the Ukrainian National Competition, which had 1000 entrants.
Could she have dreamt of such a life when she was spinning around in her purple leotard at age 5? For Tetiana Korobka, it was always the path she would follow.
