In times of great uncertainty and daily challenges, Ukrainian women prove that it’s possible not only to survive but to live fully — to learn, grow, and support others. Dancer, choreographer, and founder of the women’s community UWU, Ilona Gvozdyova, is one of them. In this interview, she openly shares her personal experience: how priorities shift after 35, why women are increasingly seeking not just support but community, how art can be a resource — and why she’s decided to go back to studying now.
After 35, many new challenges arise in a woman’s life — emotional, physical, and social. How has your self-perception and your priorities changed at this age, and what has helped you maintain inner balance?
At 37, I realized that I want to study again. To seek something new — something that inspires and keeps me moving forward without losing life’s meaning. Of course, my family remains my top priority, but personal development is equally important. I started reading a lot of psychology books, taking transformational courses, becoming more mindful about nutrition, self-care, and regularly monitoring my mental and physical health.
What helps me stay balanced is daily exercise, limiting my exposure to Telegram news, meeting with my favorite women’s community, and having a clear plan to realize my dreams. For me, life only truly began after 35. I’ve earned a certain status, I know my boundaries, I can say “no” without guilt, I’ve narrowed my circle of close contacts, and I allow myself to live more in the moment. I’ve come to understand that time is the most valuable thing we have — and we can never get it back. That’s why we need to act daily: to rejoice, grow, learn, and be grateful even for the smallest victories.
UWU positions itself as a supportive space for women. What need sparked its creation, and how do you think women’s demand for community has changed in recent years?
UWU was born at the start of the full-scale war — out of an acute need for women’s solidarity and support. In 2022, we all had to start from scratch. And women in particular took on a huge amount of responsibility. I wanted to create a space where every woman could feel heard, share her experience, and where she could draw strength just to keep going.
Today, UWU is more than just a community. It’s a platform for charitable initiatives, support for artists and Ukrainian brands, and speaker events. Women today want more: they strive to be independent, to launch businesses, master new professions, and combine all of this with motherhood. Like Amazons they embody beauty, strength, intelligence, and agility. And most importantly — they’re not alone.
During the war, many artists lost their usual stages and platforms. What does artistic fulfillment mean for a dancer today, in such unstable times?
Today, a dancer’s fulfillment depends entirely on their own awareness and intention. On understanding that dance is not just TikTok or entertainment — it’s hard daily work. It’s about the body and the mind. About having a clear civic stance, about expanding your worldview, and becoming a role model for the next generation.
If you truly want to grow, you’ll find opportunities. You’ll learn. You’ll create your own stage — even where it seems none exists. A dancer today is not just a performer. They are also a teacher, a therapist, and a voice for their community. And that is a beautiful thing.