Strip Journey

In this episode of Strip Journey, I sit down with Julianna Kobtseva , one of Frame Up legends, for a conversation recorded on a balcony in Athens, Greece, right after she taught her first workshops in the country. Hear about Julianna’s road from a small town in Siberia to the big stages and international fame. She even reveals how StripLab, the name, came to be. A conversation about art, motherhood, stereotypes and being more than one thing. I hope you will enjoy. Julianna’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobtseva/StripLab : https://www.instagram.com/striplab/00:00 – Intro02:00 – From piano to street dance04:00 – How she found strip dance08:00 – Strip Lab origin story11:00 – Inside Strip Lab today14:00 – Teaching around the world15:00 – Her choreography philosophy19:30 – Breaking stereotypes22:00 – Motherhood27:00 – Closing messages

In this episode of Strip Journey, I talk with Fernanda Sibaja - a 32-year-old dancer from Costa Rica and official frame-up representative.Fernanda’s path to dance wasn’t a straight line: childhood dance and theater groups, a failed contemporary dance university audition at 18, years working as a yoga and Pilates instructor - and then, at 27, discovering heel dance and falling for frame-up almost immediately. At 29 she went back to school for a three-year professional dance program in Costa Rica, trained herself online in between classes, and this year became one of the dancers selected for Nastya Yurasova’s very first certification held outside of Russia, in London.We talk about the intensity of training directly under Nastya’s eye, the honest - and humbling - feedback that pushed her to keep going, what it’s like to introduce frame-up to Costa Rica almost from scratch, and her own history with an eating disorder and body image as a former yoga/Pilates instructor - and how that experience now shapes the way she teaches women.Fernanda also opens up about her love of acrobatics, the frame-up dancers who inspire her, and the advice she’d give anyone starting out, wherever in the world they happen to be.Fernanda’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fer.femfit/00:00 – Introduction & welcome00:45 – Fernanda’s background: early dance, theater & a university audition setback03:45 – University of Costa Rica’s three-year professional dance program07:00 – Getting selected for the London certification10:30 – Teaching her first class back home; Costa Rica’s frame-up scene (14:30 – Body image, disordered eating & training philosophy24:00 – Acrobatics as her teaching specialty25:30 – Advice for beginners & frame-up inspirations33:30 – Final message & wrap-up

In this special report, I’m taking you to Athens, Greece, where I joined the Erotica Frame Up Intensive Weekend.The weekend was organised by Vivian Voss , you might know her from Episode 24, and brought together three teachers: Vivian herself, experimental high heels dancer Luisa Lazri, and all the way from St. Petersburg, Julianna Kobtseva, teaching both her Forma technique and choreography.The schedule packed in technique classes, different choreography styles, a dance improv and jam class, and finished with Stage Noir - a performance evening with a DJ set.In this episode you’ll hear advice from Julianna on practicing on both sides and knowing your own learning pace, a candid conversation between Vivian and Julianna on what erotica really means - intelligence, nuance, presence - and what it’s like to develop a signature style as an artist.A warm, thoughtful weekend with a lot of dancing. Glad I was there.Follow Vivian: https://www.instagram.com/vivianvoss_/Follow Experimental Erotica: https://www.instagram.com/experimental.erotica/Follow Frame Up Greece: https://www.instagram.com/frameupstrip_greece/Follow Julianna Kobtseva: https://www.instagram.com/kobtseva/Follow Luisa Lazri: https://www.instagram.com/luizalazri/A special thank you to all the dancers from the weekend featuring in the videos and especially Sotiria (https://www.instagram.com/sotiria_fili/ ), Naz (https://www.instagram.com/vardarlinazlihan/ ) and Lina (https://www.instagram.com/linapurple_ribbon/)00:00 – Introduction & the event01:00 – Julianna Kobtseva: training both sides & knowing your learning pace03:00 – Luisa Lazri: experimental heels, improv class & goal-setting04:30 – Vivian interviews Julianna: what erotica really means09:00 – Signature style, artistic identity & collaboration13:30 – Stage Noir & closing reflections

In this episode of Strip Journey, I talk with Flor, a 22-year-old dancer, teacher, and frame-up organiser from Buenos Aires, Argentina.Flor started pole dancing at 14, competed from 18 (and won every time), then flew to Moscow to train frame-up directly from Russian teachers. Since coming back, she has built Argentina's first dedicated frame-up community, packed her workshops with theory and technique, and organised the country's first multi-teacher frame-up event, all within two years of returning.We talk about what it's like to grow a niche style from scratch in South America, how culture shapes the way we experience our bodies in dance, the unspoken rules around what kind of sexy is acceptable - and who gets to break them, and Flor's meticulous approach to making a two-minute choreography over two to three weeks.A conversation full of honesty, philosophy, and a lot of love for dance.Flor's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/floresttada/Argentina Frame-Up community page: https://www.instagram.com/frameup.arg/00:00 – Introduction & welcome00:45 – Flor's background: pole, competing, and discovering frame-up04:00 – Training in Moscow: the experience and standout classes05:30 – Back in Buenos Aires: first workshop sells out07:00 – Organising Argentina's first multi-teacher frame-up event10:00 – The Prague convention & the global frame-up map13:00 – Will South America develop its own frame-up style?14:00 – How culture shapes how we experience our bodies in dance15:00 – Flor's choreography process17:00 – Teaching style: repetition, patience, and detail19:00 – Advice for people who want to start frame-up22:30 – Sexy vs. vulgar: who gets to push limits and why27:00 – Body diversity, Argentina's feminist wave & body culture compared29:30 – Flor's icons34:00 – Final message

In Episode 32 of Strip Journey, I talk to Viktoryia, based in Poland, who is quickly becoming a driving force in the Frame Up Strip community.From starting dance at just three years old to taking a five-year break and returning through high heels, Viktoryia shares how she found her way into strip dance — and why self-training became the key to her growth. We dive into her journey from corporate life to teaching, building a community in Warsaw, and even organizing her own championship.We also talk about:Overcoming fear of performing (even as a teacher)The power of improvisation and finding your own styleBuilding community through events, collaborations, and shared platformsWhy stepping out of your comfort zone is everythingThis episode is a reminder that growth doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from showing up, trying, and doing the scary things anyway.Viktoryia’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyofyourparty/Polish Frame Up community: https://www.instagram.com/frameupstrip_poland/Metro champ: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/metro_champ/00:00 – Intro & Viktoryia’s background01:00 – Starting dance early & moving to Poland02:30 – Discovering heels and strip style04:00 – The power of self-training07:00 – From dancer to teacher10:00 – Building a dance community in Poland12:00 – Creating a platform for dancers & events14:00 – Collaborations & viral video creation18:30 – Competing despite fear of performing24:00 – Teaching, growth & future plans25:30 – Organizing a dance championship (Metro Champ)28:00 – Improvisation & finding your style31:00 – Advice for beginners36:30 – Quick questions (shoes, inspiration, fun facts)38:00 – Final message: just do it

In this episode of Strip Journey, I talk with Pauline, a Frame Up dancer and studio owner from Paris, France. After being diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue disorder that forced her to stop dancing, Pauline rebuilt her relationship with movement by studying pain management, biomechanics, yoga, and Pilates.She eventually found her way back to dance through floorwork and Frame Up, and today she runs a training center in Paris focused on a holistic approach to dancer training. We talk about resilience, training with limitations, teaching beginners, and building an inclusive dance community. Pauline also shares her experience competing at Stage 18+ and why she believes dance should be about expression and not fitting a mold. A powerful conversation about persistence, identity, and creating your own place in dance.Pauline’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatfrenchgirlsaid/Pauline’s studio The Field: https://www.instagram.com/thefield.paris/00:00 Introduction01:10 Pauline’s dance background and diagnosis04:00 Rebuilding movement after Ehlers-Danlos syndrome06:30 Discovering floorwork and Frame Up09:00 Opening a holistic dance training studio in Paris12:00 Learning Frame Up in Europe and building community16:30 Teaching beginners and mindset in dance20:30 Competing at Stage 1824:30 Training, recovery, and pushing physical limits29:30 Finding her dance style and inspirations33:30 Advice for new dancers and final message

In this episode of Strip Journey, Morana speaks with Polina Petropavlovskaia, a Frame Up choreographer, director, and official representative with a background in hip hop and experience in stage shows and TV dance competitions. Polina shares her journey into Frame Up and how joining Agny shaped her first steps, her move to Barcelona after an unexpected career transition, and her experience building the style in Europe. She discusses concept-driven choreography, the role of acrobatics and film in her work, differences between dance cultures, and her future plans for dance films, collaborations, and community growth in Barcelona and beyond. Polina’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p_petropavlovskaya/Frame Up Barcelona: https://www.instagram.com/frameup_bcn/

In this episode, Morana speaks with Vienna-based frame up teacher Daria (Dasha) Gendina. Daria shares her journey from 15 years of competitive figure skating to becoming a frame up teacher in Vienna. She talks about how her sports background shaped her movement style, her path through training and teaching, and what it took to build a frame up community from scratch in a new city.The conversation covers her approach to teaching beginners, combining acrobatics, flow, and ballet-inspired details, as well as her views on consistency, filming as part of the learning process, and developing an individual style. Daria also reflects on competitions, student progress, and her plans to continue growing frame up in Austria.Daria’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gendosska/

In this episode, Morana talks to Tatiana Filipenko, a Frame Up Strip teacher, dancer, and choreographer based in Slovenia. Originally from Siberia, Tatiana shares her journey from rhythmic gymnastics to discovering Frame Up through a Russian TV show—an encounter that instantly changed her life. With no local teachers at first, she learned from slowed-down videos, eventually moving to Moscow to train more deeply.Tatiana describes how she relocated to Slovenia and ended up starting a Frame Up community from scratch in a very traditional dance environment. She discusses her challenges, her students’ growth, and her decision to pursue formal choreography education at age 31 to refine her teaching and give more to her dancers.Tatiana shares her creative process, her approach to motivating beginners, and what she believes Frame Up represents: freedom. The episode closes with Tatiana’s message to anyone thinking of trying Frame Up: just go for it—you belong on the dance floor.Tatiana’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_filipena_/00:00 Introduction00:40 Tatiana’s Background01:00 Dance Journey01:50 Discovering Frame Up02:30 Learning Without Teachers03:10 Training in Moscow03:55 Moving to Slovenia04:20 Becoming a Teacher05:30 Classes in Slovenia08:35 Competitions in Europe11:00 First Frame Up Competition12:40 Plans and Goals14:00 Creative Process14:50 Advice for Beginners15:40 Motivating Students16:45 Boots or Sandals20:30 One Word for Frame Up20:50 Memorable Teaching Moment21:10 Fun Facts22:00 Final Message

In this episode, Morana talks with dancer and choreographer Yuliana Zolotova, joining from Novi Sad, Serbia. Yuliana shares her journey from starting dance at age seven in Ukraine to studying dance professionally, performing on cruise ships around the world, and eventually settling in Serbia for love.She tells how she discovered Frame Up Strip through Anastasia Koval, later bringing the style to Serbia, where she now teaches and performs. Yuliana recalls working with Serbian pop stars, creating choreography for them, as well as winning first place in her category at World of Dance Serbia.They discuss her teaching path—from being afraid to teach adults to building Frame Up and heels communities in Novi Sad and Belgrade—and her challenges as an immigrant instructor introducing a new dance style to a new culture. Yuliana closes with heartfelt advice for dancers: never give up on what you love, stay patient, and enjoy the process.Yuliana’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuliana_zolotova/00:00 Introduction01:00 Early Beginnings 02:00 Studying & Performing Abroad04:30 Discovering Frame Up Strip 05:30 Teaching in a New Country 06:30 Bringing Frame Up to the Serbian Stage 09:00 Dance Foundations & Style10:30 Winning World of Dance Serbia 12:30 Injuries & Conventions 15:00 Teaching Today 18:30 Finding Her Style20:30 Creating Choreography 22:00 Teaching Artists & Groups 23:30 Advice for Dancers 24:30 Upcoming Projects 25:30 Quickfire Round – Shoes, icons, favorite choreo, and fun facts30:00 Life on Cruise Ships 32:30 Becoming Her Own Project 33:30 Final Message – “Don’t give up on what you love”