Larissa Kovalenko (she/they) is a 34 year old multidisciplinary creative artist based in amiskwaciwâskahikan. She has been dancing since the age of 2, training in various styles including jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary, Ukrainian, and many latin styles. She has trained extensively in foundational hip hop, including styles such as popping, locking, breaking, krumping, boogaloo, house, waacking, dancehall and vogue. She has spent the last decade focused on dancing in heels and injury prevention. Over the years, she has pursued training under renowned instructors in Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, New York, LA, Mexico, Colombia, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.

Larissa's career as a performer has taken her to stages across the world. She has performed in Spain, Las Vegas, and as an internationally touring dancer with the Ultra Angels for Ultra Music Festival, she performed in Croatia, South Korea, and Miami. As a gogo dancer for 18 years, Larissa has had the privilege of sharing stages with some of the biggest names in the electronic DJ world, including Matoma, Borgore, Kygo, Fedde Le Grande, Tiesto, Skrillex, Carl Cox, Hardwell, Avicii, Loud Luxury, Morgan Page, Dj Snake, Deadmau5, Paul Oakenfold, and Armin Van Buuren. When Lady Gaga and Girlicious first performed in Alberta, Larissa choreographed the opening act, which featured an Edmonton-based neo-burlesque troupe. Larissa has provided choreography and movement coaching for Edmonton-based talents VISSIA and Michelle Molineux, and recently choreographed Mackenzie Dayle's first two music videos. Additionally, Larissa has worked closely with some of Edmonton's most notable event producers providing creative direction for various companies and charitable events, including LiveNation, Boodang, Canadian Home Builders Awards, GoWest, RIMSFest, West Edmonton Mall, Lloydminster Regional Health Foundation, Art Gallery of Alberta, Red Bull, Dynalife, River Cree Resort and Casino, Bioware, EA Gaming, YESS, and the Edmonton Oilers Foundation.

As a dancer who identifies as queer, and who faces a multitude of medical challenges: AuDHD, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, hypermobility and PMDD, Larissa is a fierce advocate for performer rights, fair compensation, and accommodations for all dancers. She believes in building a supportive community rather than promoting competition, and she values all forms of movement as valid, regardless of a dancer's level of technique and training. Larissa believes that movement is not just a form of artistic expression, but it can also be a powerful tool for personal growth and healing. She hopes that others can experience the same benefits and use dance as a means of self-expression and self-care.