Ina and her dance partner, Troels Bager, have enjoyed tremendous success as five-time World Latin Champions. In a recent podcast-style video interview, Ina gives some great insight into the mind of a champion and talks about the qualities that make a champion and how to reach your full potential.
Ina Ivanova Jeliazkova, who hails from Bulgaria, and her partner Troels Bager are recognized as five-time World Champions and three-time US National Champions. They have also won the Blackpool and UK Open Amateur Latin Championships, originally in an Under-21 category and then the Adult age category. Ina began dancing at age 11 after trying various other sports. Now that they have retired from competition, Ina is embarking on a new venture to develop a dance academy focused on Pro/Am dancers.
In this extensive interview, Ina shares great insights into what sets champions apart from those who come close but never quite reach the top. She gives some great answers to the interviewer’s questions on how to reach your full potential.
According to Ina, the final 1% that differentiates champions lies in their willingness to be “extraordinary,” to step beyond the typical path with passion and an all-consuming obsession, for lack of a better word. The goal must be all-encompassing, she points out. Those who don’t make it fall short because they don’t quite make it important enough in their lives. Success, she emphasizes, requires loving the entire journey, from grueling early mornings and jet lag to constant training and missed social events. But rather than seeing these as sacrifices, Ina frames them as the natural price for fulfilling a deep inner calling.
A central theme of the conversation is the importance of process over outcome.
Ina never directly aspired to win world championships. Instead, she followed an intense craving to experience joy and fulfillment through dance. This dedication to the process fueled her ability to consistently perform at the highest level. She also shares how important it is to connect with audiences as part of what you are expressing as a dancer. She explains that audiences, even those without technical knowledge, can feel a dancer’s energy, drive, and obsession, which creates an unspoken yet powerful resonance.
Ina also delves into the mindset that sustained her throughout her career. She reflects on how her approach evolved from rigid routines to a more intuitive, present-moment focus influenced by spiritual teachings, mentioning in particular Michael Singer’s book, The Untethered Soul. This shift allowed her to respond fluidly to each day’s unique challenges, both in training and in competition, without being weighed down by expectations or negative thoughts.
I particularly love what she says about moving beyond mechanical actions as a dancer. It’s not enough to know a routine and put practiced steps in front of the audience and judges. To become a champion, you need to be essentially living the dance, expressing your heart and soul with an understanding of what you are trying to show through your dancing.
She talks to Pro/Am competitors, which appears to be a primary focus of her dance institute, because she feels that they have a harder time than many others to move beyond the mechanics of technique to embrace the dynamics of performance. Yet this is essential to stand out on the competition floor.
She highlights the value of seeing oneself as the observer of emotions, rather than identifying with them, which creates the physical and emotional freedom necessary for top-level dancing.
Additionally, she discusses the importance of consistent intention in practice. For Ina, it’s not enough to rehearse mechanically; the energy, presence, and emotion that one intends to bring to the performance must be embedded into each rehearsal.
She advises dancers to match the focus and spirit of performance during practice, so the body becomes naturally attuned to delivering that level of intensity without forcing it on stage.
Ultimately, Ina’s message is about authenticity, inner alignment, and whole-hearted dedication. She believes true success in dance, as well as in life, comes from a commitment to the journey, constant self-reflection, and allowing space for evolution and emotional growth.
Watch the Interview on YouTube:
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