Today we’d like to introduce you to Roman Chagay.
Hi Roman , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been a professional ballroom dancer and coach for over 20 years. Together with my wife Liya Chagay, we built our life around dance — teaching, performing, and helping people discover confidence and joy through movement.
When we moved to Orlando, we opened Vita Dance Studio, a family-run school that quickly became known for its warm community and high-level ballroom training. In 2023, I was honored to be recognized among the Top 5 Teachers in the United States, which became a meaningful milestone in my career and confirmed that passion and dedication truly make a difference.
After the success of our studio, we wanted to give something back to the community. That’s how Vita Foundation was born in 2024 — a nonprofit organization focused on inclusion through the art of dance. Our mission is to bring together people of all abilities — including those with physical and developmental challenges — and show that everyone deserves a place on the dance floor.
Soon after organizing our first large charity debutante ball that included wheelchair dancers and children with special needs, I suffered a severe Achilles tendon rupture and other injuries that temporarily ended my ability to dance. It was an incredibly hard period — but it also became a turning point that deepened my understanding of resilience and the healing power of movement.
That experience reinforced our purpose: dance is not only art or competition — it’s therapy, connection, and a bridge between people.
Today, Vita Dance and Vita Foundation continue to grow side by side, uniting professionals, families, and communities through programs and events that celebrate inclusion, diversity, and hope.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has never been easy. Building something meaningful always comes with challenges — especially when you’re trying to change perceptions and create opportunities where they’ve never existed before.
One of the biggest struggles has been the lack of resources — both financial and human. We have incredible ideas and programs, but not always enough people ready to work in this direction or enough funding to bring every vision to life.
Another challenge is visibility. Our dream is to bring wheelchair dancing and inclusive ballroom programs to the same level of recognition as sports like basketball or volleyball. We want to make it possible for students to receive college scholarships for ballroom dance, just like athletes in other sports.
It’s a big dream — but that’s what keeps us moving forward. Every event, every child with special needs who steps onto the floor, every volunteer who joins our mission brings us one step closer. Our goal is to build a structure strong enough to make inclusion not a special project, but a normal part of the dance world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a professional ballroom dancer, coach, and creative director. For more than 20 years, dance has been both my career and my language — a way to communicate emotion, discipline, and human connection.
Through Vita Dance, I specialize in American Smooth and Rhythm styles, as well as International Ballroom, Latin, and Theatrical Showdance. Over the years, I’ve trained hundreds of students and professionals, and in 2023 I was honored to be recognized among the Top 5 Teachers in the United States.
What truly defines my work now, however, is inclusion. Through Vita Foundation, we bring the art of ballroom to people who are often left out of it — individuals with physical disabilities, children with developmental challenges, and families who never thought they could belong in this world.
I’m most proud of creating moments where everyone, no matter their ability, can shine on the same stage — from a wheelchair couple dancing a waltz to a child with special needs smiling through their first performance.
What sets us apart is heart. We don’t just teach steps — we build confidence, joy, and community. We use dance as therapy, art, and celebration of life. That’s the mission that drives me every day — to prove that dance truly has no limits.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory isn’t a happy one in the usual sense — it’s a moment that shaped who I am. When I was five, my parents divorced, and a few years later my younger sister passed away. My mother always dreamed that my sister would dance one day — it was something she often talked about with love and hope.
When I was 14, one of her friends asked if I could be a dance partner for her daughter. I agreed just to make my mother happy. I didn’t know then that this small act of love would define the rest of my life.
That first dance lesson became the beginning of everything — my career, my art, and my purpose. Especially now, since my mother passed away in 2021, every dance feels like a way to keep her dream alive. It’s a memory that still guides me, reminding me that love can turn pain into purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.vitafoundation.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedebutanteballorlando
