My Vilnius is a series of interviews that introduce you to people who call Vilnius their home. It’s all about the ordinary lives of extraordinary people and vice versa. We kick off our autumn season with Diana, a professional ballroom dancer, settling in the capital, making a home out of it, and sharing her passion project online.
VP: What was life like before moving to Lithuania?
Diana: I moved to Lithuania 3,5 years ago to pursue my professional ballroom dancing career with a dancing partner from Lithuania. I started dancing when I was five years old, a hobby that later became a career.
When I moved to Lithuania, I was in my final year of high school. I was quite young and a bit scared of leaving my family for the first time, but Lithuania was love at first sight. As for dancing, my partner and I competed for two years, representing Lithuania in world competitions, including winning a silver medal.
VP: When and how did you decide that Vilnius would be the city you want to reside in?
Diana: When I moved to Lithuania, I lived in Kaunas for two years. After finishing my dance career, I entered the LMTA University in Vilnius. I have now been living here for about 1.5 years. The funny thing is that I wouldn’t have learned Lithuanian if I had moved to Vilnius right away because this city is more international, and you can speak English everywhere.
At first, it was hard for me to get used to it because I already knew Kaunas well and felt at home, but over time, I fell in love with Vilnius, its architecture, and the number of events and activities that you can do here. Although Kaunas still has a special place in my heart. Also, getting into a relationship here influenced my decision because home is where your heart is.
VP: What do you do for a living? Are there any new and exciting projects you’re currently working on?
Diana: When I moved to Vilnius, I started working as a ballroom dance teacher/instructor in parallel with my university studies. Currently, I’m working on organizing my own courses in the Heels dance style in Vilnius. My goal is to create a safe space for women who have long wanted to try dancing but don’t know where to start.
For that, I want to combine elements from different styles, including Latin and Classic dance, and make the course simple and fun for beginners. I recently started my podcast with foreigners who moved to Lithuania because I am very interested in hearing other people’s stories and impressions of Lithuania. We have already filmed three episodes and do not plan to stop. On top of that, I am also currently working on other filming projects in Vilnius, which I’m excited about, but I can’t release more details yet.
VP: What are your top three favourite spots in Vilnius?
Diana: Vilnius, the capital of such an undiscovered gem of a country as Lithuania, has a vast number of amazing places. Therefore, it isn’t easy to choose favorites.
But if I had to, I’d choose, here’s my round-up of three:
- Bernardinų sodas – A serene park nestled in the heart of Vilnius, offering a tranquil escape amidst decorative and botanical plants, a peaceful pond, children’s playgrounds, a charming carousel, a playful fountain, a summer library and reading room, and inviting cafes. Not to forget, it’s also home to the oldest oak tree in Vilnius.
- Lukiškių prison – a place of transformation from prison to artistic venue. This unique space hosts captivating concerts, and in winter, it transforms into an ice skating rink. The night excursion experience is a must for those seeking a different experience.
- Pučkorių atodanga – the most impressive and highest viewpoint in Lithuania. From the outcrop, you can see a wonderful panorama of the Vilnius surroundings open up: you can see the bends of the Vilnius River and the hills and forests of the Pavilnių Regional Park. Also, there is a famous presidential glass house. It was a shocking discovery for me that the president of Lithuania lives so close to the people of his country. And the craziest thing is that during one of our walks there, we met the president’s wife – a lovely lady walking there with her dog.
VP: What advice would you give someone about to be an expat before moving to Lithuania?
Diana: It is important to stay positive, even though being an expat might feel lonely at times. From my experience, Lithuanians can seem a bit cold at first. But over time, I realized that this is just a cultural feature. And with time, Lithuanians can become great friends, but developing friendships takes longer.
VP: What are your go-to places in Vilnius for an after-work evening?
Diana: Vilnius has many cozy places to hang out with friends after work, so it’s always interesting to try something new. To do this, just take a walk through the old town; I recommend checking out the areas around Vilniaus and Vokiečių streets. Among the latest gems, I would like to mention Opera Social House. It’s a cozy rooftop terrace with a city view; sometimes, they invite nice DJs.
VP: Do you have a life philosophy? If so, what is it?
Diana: Perhaps my main philosophy is the understanding that all the answers are already within us. Only inner work can help make a person truly happy. It is important to be honest with yourself and this world and listen to your intuition. Only love and kind hearts can save this world.
VP: Where can we find you in the digital sphere?
Diana: I have Instagram and TikTok accounts where I post about some of my life adventures in Lithuania. Also, our YouTube channel, which is a podcast, is called @DiDiary.
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