Ukrainian sand artist ODali, who has dazzled audiences around the world with her mesmerizing sand creations, is set to make her U.S. debut in West Windsor with a magical “Disney Journey” performance.ODali, who has been has been putting on shows since she was five years old, grew up up in large apartment buildings and spent many years during her childhood playing outside with other children from the buildings.During playtime, the young creative would organize concerts and perform for anyone who had acquired one of her handmade concert tickets.The now 37-year-old artist has spent the past 11 years mastering sand art and performing her craft around the world.ODali is making her United States debut at Windsor Athletic Club in West Windsor at 6 p.m. on Nov. 23, 2024.During the performance, she will take the audience through a “Disney Journey,” using sand to draw popular Disney characters and scenes, while classic Disney songs play throughout the evening.“I strive to connect art and music to convey stories that can touch viewers of all ages,” ODali said. “My sand art is not just about visual paintings; it’s a way to immerse audiences in narratives that encourage reflection, feeling, and understanding something new.”ODali began creating sand art after watching it on TV and being encouraged by her husband to try it out.“He said he noticed I liked to draw, especially architectural sketches on napkins when I was nervous, and that I had a knack for it,” ODali said. “Although I didn’t consider myself an artist then, he convinced me to try.”A few days after the couple first saw sand art on TV, ODali’s husband built her a sand table and accompanied her to the beach to gather sand. ODali then created her first sand drawing — a girl that she transformed into a mermaid and then into a flower.“The ability to control the flow of the sand and create whatever I wanted fascinated me,” ODali said. “I felt like a director managing my paintings without needing actors.”Sand art became a passion for ODali, so she started taking lessons and attending art schools to develop her skills. After a year of practicing her talent without an audience, the artist performed her first sand art concert at a venue in her hometown of Kremenchuk, Ukraine.Since that first concert a decade ago, ODali has performed in dozens of countries at concerts, weddings, baby showers, birthdays, festivals, and other events. She has also appeared on popular TV shows like Dancing with the Stars and potentially America’s Got Talent, which she recently auditioned for.”I have two favorite parts [about performing],” ODali said. “The first is the preparation and creation stage, when I try to bring all my ideas to life. The second is the finale of the concert when I see the audience’s satisfaction.”ODali has performed for people of all ages and adjusts her act depending on the type of audience she is performing for.When she is doing a show for children, the sand artist incorporates elements that would appeal to younger people and invites some of them on stage with her. Those who are selected to join ODali on stage have the opportunity to draw on her sand table.“Their innocent emotions, gratitude, and sincerity are genuine, and their compliments are incredibly valuable to me,” ODali said.While ODali receives positive feedback from her young audiences, the sand artist’s work has also touched the hearts of adult spectators.ODali remembers one audience member in particular who messaged her after attending a sand art concert on Valentine’s Day. His message said that he realized how much he loved his girlfriend during the concert, and the performance’s theme of love moved him so much that he proposed to her. The audience member’s girlfriend said yes to his proposal.“This is the kind of reaction that truly matters — bringing love through sand and music and helping someone understand something significant about themselves,” ODali said.The sand artist has spent her life performing, so she has plenty of experience being in front of an audience. When the little girl who put on concerts outside of her apartment building grew up some, she figured out something about herself.“I became more interested in creativity closer to the age of 12 or 13 when I realized that it fascinated me,” ODali said.The artist would go on to attend Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts to study directing and acting. After graduating and having a daughter, ODali worked in theater, despite growing up in a “regular family where creativity was not a central focus.”ODali is the daughter of a mother who worked as a physical therapy instructor at a hospital, and a father who worked at a plant that dealt with refrigeration equipment.“My parents were not in creative professions,” ODali said. “Nevertheless, my parents, especially my mother, paid attention to my cultural development.”There were not many events or exhibitions hosted in ODali’s home city. Despite this, any time a concert or art exhibition came to town, ODali’s mother would take her to experience it.“I believe this had a significant impact on me,” ODali said. “My appreciation for painting comes from my mother.”Throughout her childhood, the sand artist also developed a love for music. Her father loved to dance, so “good music” was always playing at home.ODali lived in Ukraine for much of her early life. She also spent some time in Latvia, where she developed as an artist, before moving back to Ukraine.When the war between Russia and Ukraine began, ODali decided to leave Ukraine again and move back to Latvia. While living in Latvia, the sand artist and her family still felt pressure from Russia and constant discussions about the potential for conflict.“[This] was very stressful for us after experiencing war in Ukraine,” ODali said. “We wanted to escape the stress and had long received invitations to perform in the United States, which made us curious about how my art would be received here.”Ultimately, ODali and her family decided to move to Princeton, where she still resides.“I really enjoy this place,” ODali said. “It’s very picturesque, like a little corner of Europe in New Jersey.”ODali has already met the Princeton area. Now, on Nov. 23, its residents will meet ODali when she performs “Disney Journey.”The concert will reflect the sand artist’s love of Disney fairytales. ODali has performed a similar version of the concert for children in Europe, which was well received by the audience.“’Disney Journey’ is a concert that can easily be adapted here in the U.S.,” ODali said. “I love it. It is filled with magic and beauty.”After she puts on her “Disney Journey” concert in West Windsor, ODali is planning a tour and hopes to perform in cities across the U.S. She plans to learn more about classic American fairy tales so that she can introduce children to those works in an interesting and unique way.The sand artist wants her audiences to walk away with something after each of her shows.“I am also very interested in introducing children to classical music and art in an accessible and engaging way,” ODali said. “It’s important for me that through my work, audiences find inspiration and joy, regardless of their age.”For tickets to the show, go to geotickets.tv/events/sandanimationconcert. Check ODali out on Facebook at facebook.com/odalisandart.
Ukrainian sand artist ODali will make her U.S. debut in a performance at the Windsor Athletic club on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.,
Ukrainian sand artist ODali creates her artwork live before a theater audience.,
