Life & Work with Dana Shermister of North Hollywood, Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Shermister.

Hi Dana, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have been dancing my entire life. Dance has always been an inseparable part of who I am. I grew up in a small city in Israel, where opportunities were very limited, but my dreams were always much bigger than my surroundings. I knew I wanted something more for myself, even though I didn’t know exactly how to get there or how to turn those dreams into a clear vision for my future.

From the age of three until I was 21, I danced nonstop. Dance was always at the center of my life, and throughout those years, I dreamed of moving to America and building a career doing what I love.

At 21, after completing my military service in Israel, I decided to take a leap of faith and travel to Los Angeles to experience it for myself and see what everyone was talking about. I fell in love with the city almost immediately. I knew this was where I wanted to live, grow, and pursue my dreams.

I didn’t know where to start, how everything would work out, or what the journey would look like. I didn’t have all the answers or a clear plan. I just knew, deep down, that this was what I wanted, and I was willing to take the risk to make it happen.

Today, five years later, I’m proud to say that I’m living the life I once dreamed of. I’m a professional dancer and choreographer, teaching my own classes in Los Angeles and building a community of dancers who inspire and support one another. Every day, I get to grow, create, and express myself through my passion.

Moving to Los Angeles was the best decision I’ve ever made. It taught me that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you take the first step. Sometimes, all you need is a dream, the courage to pursue it, and the willingness to believe in yourself, even when you don’t know exactly where the journey will take you.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The journey has never been easy, and I don’t think it ever really gets easier. I think you just become stronger.

I remember that during my first year in Los Angeles, I lost myself a little. I was trying so hard to fit in, to be like everyone else, and to do what everyone around me was doing, that I lost touch with who I truly was. Somewhere along the way, I lost both my direction and a part of myself. Eventually, I realized I needed to take a few months away to reconnect with myself, regain my focus, and find my way back to the person I wanted to be.

Looking back, that period taught me so much. I’ve grown tremendously since then, and today, I have a much stronger sense of who I am, what I stand for, and what I bring to the table. I understand my boundaries, I know what I’m capable of, and, just as importantly, I’ve learned to recognize what isn’t right for me — and to understand that there is nothing wrong with that.

I’ve learned to accept myself, to love myself, and to embrace the things that make me unique. Instead of trying to be like everyone else, I’ve learned to recognize the qualities that set me apart and understand that those differences are my strength. I no longer feel the need to fit into someone else’s idea of who I should be. I’m learning to trust my own path, honor who I am, and build a career and a life that truly reflect me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what makes me stand out the most is, obviously, my classes and my unique movement style. I’ve been teaching heels for four years, and it’s the style I connect with the most and the one that feels most authentically me. I teach at two of the best dance studios in Los Angeles, if not in the world, and I’m incredibly grateful to be able to share my style, my vision, and my passion with other dancers.

I’ve always loved creating, and recently, I had the opportunity to choreograph for an artist I really admire, Jae Stephens. I’m incredibly proud to be part of her live performance and to contribute to bringing her vision to life through dance. It may be one step in a much bigger journey, but it means a lot to me, and I know it’s only the beginning.

One of my biggest goals is to continue growing as a choreographer. I have a strong visual imagination, and I love being able to take the visions I have in my head and translate them into something real. I love leading, working with the camera, and communicating emotion through music and movement. For me, choreography is about more than just creating steps; it’s about telling a story, creating a feeling, and making people connect with something beyond the movement itself.

Dance has given me so much more than a career. It has given me confidence, a sense of identity, and the ability to express parts of myself that words sometimes can’t. I feel incredibly lucky to have dance in my life, and there’s something truly empowering about being able to turn my emotions, ideas, and imagination into art. It’s a feeling I never want to lose, and it’s one of the biggest reasons I’m so excited about what the future holds.

Any big plans?
Looking ahead, I want to continue expanding my teaching career beyond Los Angeles and reach dancers all over the world. I’m already teaching internationally, but my goal is to grow even further, explore new countries where I haven’t taught yet, and build a bigger global community around my style and my work.

As a choreographer, I dream of working with major artists and creating choreography for music videos, visual productions, and commercials. I want to be involved in projects that allow me to bring my creative vision to life on a bigger scale and push the boundaries of what I can do as an artist.

Eventually, I would also love to explore directing and expand my work beyond choreography, taking a bigger role in shaping the overall creative vision of a project. My ultimate goal is to become one of the leading choreographers in Los Angeles, working with incredible artists and creating work that people recognize, connect with, and remember.

I know I still have so much to learn and so much room to grow, but I’m excited about the journey ahead. I have big dreams, a clear vision, and the drive to keep working toward them. I’m only getting started, and I can’t wait to see how far I can take it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danashermister.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdanashermister?vrfl=MWd4bzZ4cDd6b2ZmcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr