From building recognition for her dance and choreography skills ( she started a Dance company called Border Crossing Collective with two dancers from her native home of Canada), developing her own fashion line, Robot Arms Clothing (where Elena hand -makes every item in her own apartment), blogging about art, dance and life in her blog, entitled Watch Me Move and last but not least, working as a stylist on video and photo shoots all over NYC. She’s got it together and knows what she wants, and she does it all with a smile and an amazing outlook on life. If you didn’t know about Elena V. before, it’s time to start reading up.

A.G. : Elena, you’ve definitely proven yourself to be a jack of all trades so to speak; you are a choreographer, fashion stylist and artist…how did you fall into these professions and how did you get the idea to combine your passions?

E.V.: Dance has always been what I wanted to do, as far back as I remember. As a kid my inspirations were pretty typical: Fame, Flash Dance, Michael, Madonna as well as those beautiful ballerina’s of The National Ballet of Canada. I fell in love with the idea of movement and living as an artist. The dream was so glamorous being broke and living amongst creative people. That’s what brought me to New York. I thought you couldn’t truly be an artist without paying your dues in the most inspiring city in the world. As for my involvement in fashion, costuming plays a HUGE role in performance. My mother and grandmother made most of my dance costumes, while I hid under the sewing machine gluing sequins and learning how to make clothes. So I was always exposed to the art of making things! The fashion styling thing happened by fluke when a good friend couldn’t do a job and asked if I’d be interested. It sounded pretty exciting and after the first job I realized how closely knit my experiences were thus far, so I decided to ride the wave and I never looked back.

A.G.: What was your upbringing like and how did it land you into such a creative zone?

E.V.: I grew up in Canada in a small town 40 minutes east of Toronto. My parents are Chilean and Greek immigrants and I’m the middle child of three girls. My mother escaped Pinochet’s coup in the ’70s and my father was a Greek farm boy who travelled the world as a Communications Engineer for the Greek Air force. They had pretty eclectic tastes, so growing up there were books by Gloria Steinem, The Greek Classics, Neruda, Nikos Kazantzakis lying around. We had instruments everywhere. The music of Victoria Parra, Maria Calas, classic Greek folkloric, Pavaroti, flamenco, and gypsy music were always playing. My mother even had us listen to the speeches of Allende and Che. You know, a typical South American mom. We didn’t have much money growing up but my parents always found a way to enroll me in dance classes, music lessons and whatever creative interests I had. They created an environment that made me believe that being an artist was ok. Thanks to them I never thought twice about choosing a career as a dancer.

A.G.: You have a line called Robot Arms Clothing, can you describe the idea behind it and how you came up with the name?

E.V.: When I was 18 I started dancing in a company called Phem Phat. It was a hip hop dance company and the Choreographer Jae Blaze would throw down these crazy hard core combos; we where chicks but the movement was definitely masculine. Anyway, after a routine was executed we’d all be in this serious focused mood and to break that tension we’d all bust into the Robot. It would make us laugh hysterically every time. So I decided to name the line Robot Arms considering I started with dancer inspired Tees.

A.G.: You’ve designed for some of NYC’s club circuit and DJ’s, as well as the Queen of all costumes, Lady Gaga herself. How does it make you feel to know that people are wearing what you put together for the world to see?

Elena (left) with Lady Gaga (right)

E.V.: To be honest, it’s all part of the hustle and pretty much comes out of the necessity of various jobs: “I can hire you but you need to bring your own wardrobe”. Ok, I’ll make myself a costume, kinda-thing. The night I worked with Lady Gaga was a night like any other. This was a good year before she exploded and we were both working the club circuit. A job’s a job right? We needed costumes for the night so I whipped out some fabrics and sewed some up before we started our shift. Then months later, Gaga was all over the place! It was nice to see her cutting her teeth and working like the rest of us. I guess what I’m trying to say that it does feel good that people trust me enough to provide them with something that in essence will represent, at least for a brief moment, a glimpse into their personality.

A.G.: How would you define your own style? What do you wear on a casual day vs. a night out on the town?

E.V.: My style is all about comfort. I run around 90% of the time so if I can’t move in, it I ain’t wearing it! Most of the time I try to wear something during the day that I can overlap into the evening; I’ll wear Chuck’s with a cute dress during the A.M. then stuff a pair of fab heels in my bag to throw on for dinner.

A.G.: Do you have any fashion or styling mottos that you work and live by?

E.V.: If you don’t feel comfortable in it, CHANGE it. This rule applies especially for heels! If you can’t walk heel-toe in them, take them off.

A.G.: Your clothing line has a very tough and industrial side to it but also features some flowy, girly, one-of-a-kind styles. How long does it take you to create your designs and see them through from start to finish?

E.V.: Well I do everything by hand. The cutting, sewing and stenciling [is done] from my one bedroom in the Lower East Side, which I inhabit with my hubby and my cat! My bedroom is a sweatshop with a bed in it. Most of the time I’ll grab some really nice jersey [material] from the store down the street. I use jersey a lot because I love the way it moves and its flexibility is perfect for dancers and performers. I’ll start fooling around with it, draping it, folding it. Eventually, my brain says: Ok. Cut. And I cut… I don’t know how to work with patterns so I don’t use them. I have a great eye and use my grandmother’s old trick of counting with my fingers. At this point however I do plan to learn all the technical stuff. I have some ideas that require the savvy of pattern making…

A.G.: You also have a Dance company formed with two other friends from Canada, when did you decide to begin this venture and what style of dance do you all perform and when?

E.V.: Border Crossing Collective was formed October of 2008. Our style is definitely an eclectic fusion of different of dance. From Hip-hop, Ballet, to Contemporary, it all plays a role when we develop new works. We just wrapped a music video for School of Seven Bells, where I styled and made costumes, as well as directed the choreography. Our Next project will be a Faculty Show at Long Island University in the fall, choreographed by Krista Martins. Andrea, Krista and I have been working in the business for over 10 years. They were also company members of Phem Phat back in Canada. Last year we were discussing and contemplating our personal futures in dance and what “the next step” would be. We’re not 19 or 20 trying to “make it” anymore. We’ve all gone through that period, survived it and had a blast. Eventually you yearn for something more than auditioning and giggin’ it. You develop a need to speak your own thoughts and develop your own work. That’s when we realized why not now? We seemed ready for the change and BCC was formed. BCC is the culmination of our friendship as dancers over the last 10 years.

A.G.: You’ve performed with Shakira in the 2006 MTV VMA’s, what was that like for you? Do you feel at ease on the stage immediately, or do nerves every play a part?

E.V.: Oh shit no. I’m a nervous wreck! Always right before, standing in the wings before I go on, but as soon as my foot touches that stage…its freakin’ magic and I zone in.

A.G.: Have you ever had any terrible fashion mishaps or wardrobe malfunctions while dancing?

E.V.: Other then my ghetto fab period in the early to mid 90′s? Gel curls down the side of my face, Aliyah style baggy pants, Tu Pac bandana wrapped around my head… Enough said.

A.G.: You’ve gotten to rub elbows with some very prominent fashion icons at the moment, Lady Gaga and Christian Siriano; do you ever get star-struck?

E.V.: It’s not even like that. That’s the beauty of New York City. Their hustle is no different than mine. We didn’t meet at some industry party where everything is calculated included the guest list. It was either working or at a friend’s pad who happened to throw a get together, except when I saw Madonna DJ at a Misshapes party back in ’05. I was pretty dumb-founded.

A.G.: What are some of your summer fashion must haves for 2009?

E.V.: Tons of those really light weight tees. I would layer a couple of them and tuck them into a high-waisted skirt or shorts with come cute flats for the day. Evening: I’d grab a well constructed dress, definitely well fitted but not too tight, black sheer hose and killer heels or anything by Givenchy Ready to Wear 2009.

A.G.: What styles right now make you cringe?

E.V.: Those flip flops slash ankle boots? I don’t get it.

A.G.: You’ve done dance spots for Fuse and Nike, how did you fall into these things?

E.V.: Well Nike was a straight up audition that I booked. That led to another Nike project out in Portland. Some people had called their friends at Nike to recommend a dancer for a project they were doing in NYC. My name came up which then led to a video project for TV on the Radio which then led to Fuse. See where I’m going with this? My whole life is Kevin Bacon.

A.G.: In two such fabulous industries that you’ve created a name for in each…does it ever all come to a head? Do you ever feel spread too thin?

E.V.: It’s definitely a precarious balance! You never want your art to suffer because you can’t devote 110% of your time to it. With that being said I am slowly finding a rhythm to make sure I respect every project that comes my way. I don’t have the luxury of a limitless back account! No one has ever payed my rent. I don’t have a trust fund. And my man doesn’t pay my way. I’ve just been lucky enough to find a way to do the things that I love and where one supports the other. During the day I style and in the evenings I dance. I’m picky with my projects and make sure that I can dedicate my life at that moment to it.

A.G.: You also have a blog called ‘Watch me Move’ which chronicles you in rehearsals and has pics of photo shoots you’ve styled for, which also showcases your writing ability, do you use this tool as just another outlet for self expression and has it been useful to get your name out there?

E.V.: Both really. It’s an inexpensive website and it’s definitely a great tool to get my work out there. I’ve always enjoyed writing so it serves as yet another creative outlet.

A.G.: How do you come up with your inspiration for dance and fashion designing?

E.V.: New York City is my inspiration, my parents are my inspiration, Lou Reed is my inspiration, and my friends are my inspiration. It’s all a big pool of crazy that keep my creating. I can’t shut my brain off. Like right now, Tom Waits is playing in the background; my brain is developing a duet. Does it make sense? Who cares? I love my life.

A.G.: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How about in 10?

E.V.: Hopefully choreographing for my company of 10-12 talented and beautifully gifted dancers funded by the generosity of the NYFA and others who believe in the importance of making art as a medium to explore thought and advance communities.

A.G.: If you could dance with any famous figure, who would it be and why?

E.V.: Bill T Jones or Jiri Kylian because their work is so profound, and Madonna because she’s Madonna.

A.G.: If you could design an outfit for any celebrity, who would it be?

E.V.: Lykee Li, Allison Mosshart of The Kills, Maja Ivarsson lead singer of The Sounds.

A.G.: What are 3 things about you that no one knows?

E.V.: I’m the bird and trees in TV on the Radio’s “ME-I” video, I went to my first Iron Maiden concert last year, and my husband was my boss at Centro-fly where I coat checked when I first moved to the states.

A.G.: and last but not least, if youdidn’t live here in NYC, where do you think you would like to be?

E.V.: Paros Greece, Paris or Berlin.

If you would like to hear more about Elena Vazintaris and her various projects, look to the following websites or you can contact her directly at: evazintaris@gmail.com

• http://www.myspace.com/robotarmsclothingcompany

• www.dripbook.com/elenavazintaris

• http://www.starsandinfinitedarkness.com/robotarms.html

• http://shop.unsungdesigners.com/designersrobotarms.aspx