Following the recent release Max Azria’s 2009 Spring Collection campaign, there has been interest from Nastia’s fans as to those behind production of the campaign video. We hope that the following information will answer your questions: The Music The music is by Julia Vorontsova from her forth coming second album. Julia Vorontsova was born in St. Petersburg, Russia. A self-taught musician, Julia was memorizing guitar chord patterns even before having her first guitar at age fifteen. She released her first album, at age twenty one, in April of 2004, “From St Petersburg With Love”, and began performing at a slew of reputable NY venues from Tonic, Pianos, and Siné, to the Knitting Factory. Julia then began working on new material, collaborating with various musicians, played shows in Paris and London, and performed two live session on BBC world music shows. One of her tracks from her first album was featured on the 2005 “The Sound Of The World”, a consummate collection of World Music, compiled by the most respected World Music DJ, Charlie Gillett. As such it is regarded as “The World Music Compilation of the year”. The finest artists with their finest new songs including Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate, Mariza, Seu Jorge, Camille, Lhasa, Yasmin Levy, Youssou N’Dour, Amadou and Miriam, Oliver Mtukudzi, Chango Spasiuk. Julia was the only artist on this compilation that had just her voice and guitar. Julia was eager to pull together a surrounding sound with musicians that compliment and evolve her compositions. Julia’s new album is currently in post production and will include drums, bass, 2nd / lead guitar, violin, trumpet and other eclectic surprises. Release is scheduled for late Spring 2009. Cinematography The video was shot by Magdalena Górka. Magdalena Górka has spent over five years working with Academy-nominated Cinematographers. Her direct, hands-on experience as camera operator and second unit DP for such heralded cinematographers as Pawel Edelman (Ray, The Pianist, Edges of the Lord,) and Piotr Sobocinski (Ransom, Marvin’s Room, Hearts in Atlantis, Red) has taught her a cinematic language much appreciated by cineastes. A veteran Director of Photography on dozens of television shows and national commercials - from Ikea to Cops, and several CNN documentaries, Magdalena’s innate sensitivity and vast technical experience make her any smart director’s first choice. Her versatile style encompasses the range needed to work in several different genres. Magdalena studied at the National Film School in Lódz, Poland and graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Cinematography. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit maxazria.com to view the campaign video featuring Magdalena and Julia’s beautiful and artistic collaboration showcasing Max Azria’s 2009 Spring Collection.
Nastia was among the Olympians and celebrities who participated in the sixth annual Heart Truth Red Dress Collection Fashion Show Friday, Feb. 13 at Bryant Park in New York City. February is National Heart Month, and the fashion show is part of the month-long activities to raise women’s heart disease awareness. Nastia wore Max Azria in the show.
Other Celebrities and Olympians joining Nastia on the runway included Amanda Beard, Brittany Snow, Daisy Fuentes, Hilary Duff, Jane Kaczmarek, Jennie Garth, Katie Couric, Kristi Yamaguchi, Laila Ali, Lynda Carter, Natasha Henstridge, Nia Long, Patricia Arquette, Samantha Harris, Susan Lucci, Tori Spelling, Valerie Bertinelli and Vivica A. Fox.
In addition to Max Azria, participating designers included Badgley Mischka, Betsey Johnson, Carmen Marc Valvo, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Cushnie et Ochs, Daniel Swarovski, David Meister, Donna Karan, Gustavo Cadile, Isaac Mizrahi, Kevan Hall, Marchesa, Michael Kors, Nicole Miller, Tracy Reese, Vera Wang and Verrier.
For the first time, several of the dresses worn by celebrities in the fashion show will be auctioned to raise funds for the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, which will use the proceeds to benefit and fund efforts related to women’s heart health awareness and research. The dresses up for auction will be on display at Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock Observation Deck Feb. 14-21. The auction is through www.clothesoffourback.org.
Hey!! Hope everyone had a great holiday season! It’s so crazy it’s already February! I have been so busy with training and traveling. I recently just came back from my first camp since the Olympics! It was so good to be back in the mix of things! it was great seeing all the girls, national staff members and Martha. I went to a GK photo shoot right after camp for my new line. It’s so much fun being able to design leos for the line The WOGA Classic is coming this weekend! I hope everyone in the area will be able to come out and watch the elite session! Carly & I are also doing a charity luncheon that same afternoon! I go to another camp that night right after the competition is over. I am so excited to be back in training and getting ready for this summer/fall. I also started school at SMU this semester!!! I LOVE it! I am only taking two classes, but it’s a start! I am learning to manage my schedule with studying, training AND traveling. I am making new friends, and really enjoying classes! I went to the SMU Basketball game last weekend, and we won!!! Wahoo! Got to drop the puck at the Dallas Stars hockey game, which I have to brag that Dallas won 10-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went with my parents, Uncle and a few family friends The German National Team was at our gym for a training camp this past week. It was really good to get to know the girls, spend time with them and train together! Last but not least, I am SO excited that the 2009 VISA Championships are going to be in DALLAS this August!!!!!!!! I have never competed in front of a home crowd (except the WOGA Classic) and I’m really looking forward to it! Hope everyone is doing great! Check back soon for another update & pictures! Stay safe & DREAM BIG! XOXO~ Nastia
Episode 2 of the current season of the GK WOGA Insider has been released. Watch Nastia, Valeri, Carly and Evgeny relive and talk about their success in the last two Olympic All Around Finals. Also take a look inside Nastia’s photoshoot for her new line of signature leotards with GK Elite Sportswear!
The GK WOGA Insider is created for GK & WOGA by Rich Tate - Alford Media Services.
Nastia has updated her Favorites and Of the Moment lists! We have also launched a new Montage Challenge. Britney Spears is the featured artist for February! Entries close on 8 March! Thank you to everyone who entered the last montage challenge. We haven’t forgotten all of your hard work however due to the overwhelming number of emails Nastia’s website received after the Olympics we were forced to change our email program. For this reason, we are sure that we missed some entries in the last montage challenge. If you entered a montage in the last challenge, please visit the playlist here and see if you montage is listed. If your montage is not listed and was uploaded to youtube on or prior to 31 August 2008, please send us an email. If your montage has been deleted by youtube, you can also submit it via a file sharing service such as yousentit.com. Nastia is keen to announce a winner for the challenge and we would like to give all her fans who worked on a clip as possible the chance to be included in the entries. We will not be able to accept any emails received after 24 February.
