How I found my research: Dance leads the way for Valerie Shcherbakova

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Valerie Shcherbakova has long wanted to help others feel better: Through her high school's specialty center, she volunteered as a certified nursing assistant and an emergency medical technician. She also knew what made her feel better beyond school and service.

"Outside of the classroom, dance was my second world," said Shcherbakova, who grew up in Mechanicsville as the daughter of Russian immigrants. "I spent countless hours in the studio with a ballet company, learning discipline, expression and the strength of the mind-body connection.

Graduating amid the pandemic, Shcherbakova mixed community college and personal travel - "giving myself space to grow," she said - before enrolling at Virginia Commonwealth University in fall 2023. She found her academic home in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences in the College of Humanities and Sciences, and she graduated this past December with her undergraduate degree in health, physical education and exercise science, with a concentration in exercise science.

The field "blends my interests in movement, health and human connection," Shcherbakova said, and her journey was framed by her devotion to dance and VCU's commitment to undergraduate research. Today, Shcherbakova works as a group exercise instructor at RecWell and as an academic tutor for VCU Athletics.

Just before graduation, VCU News asked Shcherbakova for insight into how a personal passion, the pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to health care for others came together.

Tell us the focus of your research and why it is important/impactful for all of us.

My research with the Healthy Heart Lab examines how lifestyle behaviors and psychosocial stress influence cardiovascular health, with a particular focus on the hemodynamic responses that shape long-term disease risk. I aim to create a "movement of movement" by studying dance as both physical activity and cultural expression - a pathway that strengthens communities, supports emotional well-being and informs more equitable global health practices.

What inspired you to pursue this line of research?

When I transferred to VCU, I was connected with an exercise sciences peer mentor, Leila Griffin, who encouraged me to pursue research. I was able to volunteer with the Healthy Heart Lab directed by department chair R. Lee Franco, Ph.D., during my first semester. This led to my first abstract acceptance at a regional research conference - the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine.

Being part of a research group has made me feel responsible not just to contribute but to continue learning through asking questions and staying open to discovery.

Tell us about a surprise in your research journey.

In June 2025, I traveled to Natal, Brazil, for a study abroad course focused on the country's universal health care system, which reaches a significant portion of the population through community-based primary care. Inspired by the guidance of VCU professor Edmund Acevedo, Ph.D., and his colleagues at UFRN - the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte - I developed a Fulbright research application in collaboration with UFRN faculty.

Together, we proposed examining how region-specific Brazilian dance styles can serve as exercise-based interventions to support healthy aging - by studying dance not only as a physical activity but as a cultural expression that supports community cohesion, emotional well-being and long-term health. I will return to Brazil as a teacher's assistant for the same study abroad course this summer.

This experience expanded my worldview on integrative health care and sparked my excitement to pursue a career in global health. I hope to continue to contribute research on exercise and cancer survivorship, women's health and community-based movement interventions grounded in cultural traditions.

Tell us about an obstacle or challenge you had to overcome in your work.

So many of the questions I've had about dance science remain unanswered in the literature, and oddly enough, that's what excites me most. It inspires me to think creatively, imagining new research questions, innovative study designs and novel possibilities for bridging the gaps in our understanding of dance and health. Because of this gap, I've had to create many of my own opportunities.

With the support of faculty mentors, I founded HPEX X Dance, a student organization at VCU dedicated to exploring the intersection of dance and science and inviting dancers of all backgrounds to collaborate. Through this platform, and under the guidance of teaching assistant professor Stephen Vesely, I've been able to pursue projects that truly align with my passions.

One of the most rewarding moments was presenting a poster with associate professor Ronald Evans, Ph.D.: "Exploration of Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses During a Ballet Dance Performance." The project reminded me that even in the absence of a road map, you can build your own path - one question, one idea and one collaboration at a time - which opens the door to many more opportunities.

Is there a memorable partnership or lesson you've embraced along the way?

I was introduced to the RAMble: Walking for Wellness program through my principal investigator, Dr. Franco, and the Healthy Heart Lab. This program meets biweekly with health care professionals and members of the community to walk and talk about various health topics. The program aims to foster stronger patient-provider relationships, increase physical activity and enhance community support and networking. I have grown with this community during the past year.

What do you find fulfilling about the research process?

Collaboration sparks creativity. When I work alongside my peers, our shared curiosity evolves into ideas for projects and programs that genuinely reflect our passions. VCU has helped me shape my work into something larger than myself.

What inspires me most is grounding my research in the needs of the community, using evidence-based practices to address our most pressing health challenges and championing exercise as medicine. Contributing to solutions that can improve people's daily lives is what makes the entire process deeply meaningful.

What advice would you offer undergrads to kick-start their own research journeys?

Research what you love. When you choose a topic that genuinely excites you, the process stops feeling like work and starts feeling like a privilege.

For me, waking up each day knowing I get to study, teach and move through the world of dance makes me feel like the luckiest person alive. That enthusiasm becomes contagious - professors lean in, peers ask questions, and suddenly your ideas spark conversations that push you forward. Passion has a way of opening doors: Follow what lights you up, and the motivation to continue your work will naturally follow.