This is Olga Sokolova, a Russian dancer and performer with an inspirational life story that involves leaving her small town in Russia, traveling to over 40 countries and even surviving a terrifying kidnapping incident.

Despite all her hardships, Olga is using it as a source of inspiration by telling her story. And what better way to do so than by performing in the busy streets of downtown L.A.?

Teaming up with Indian Contemporary Portrait and Editorial photographer Arjun Kamath, Olga is dancing her heart out in this poignant visual photo-narrative titled “The Russian Dream – Through the Eyes of an Artiste.”

The project which was shot over 5 days represents the coming together of two young artistes who transcend the barriers of race and language to create art in their own unique ways. You can learn more about the project here, and view a couple more gorgeous shots below.