For sisters Sasha, Katya and Victoria Volodina, ballet has always been part of the family. Texas Christian University has provided a place to further bond that experience, while simultaneously creating a place for each to branch out and explore different opportunities across the university.  

All three began dancing around age 2 or 3 in their hometown of Helena, Montana, growing up in the studio together and eventually deciding to pursue ballet in college. But sharing a passion for dance didn't mean sharing exactly the same path. 

One by one, each sister found her way to the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance (SCCD) in TCU’s College of Fine Arts. 

Sasha Volodina '25 was the first. She graduated with degrees in ballet and psychology, along with a Pilates teacher certification, before moving to Colorado to dance professionally. Katya, now a junior, is studying ballet alongside criminology and criminal justice. This fall, Victoria is the third Volodina sister to join SCCD, pairing her ballet studies with mathematics. 

Finding Their Own Paths 
For Sasha, TCU stood out because SCCD encouraged her to think about who she was beyond the studio. 

“From my first day of orientation, there was this concept of, ‘I'm a dancer, and what else?'” Sasha said. “TCU's dance program emboldened me to explore another world outside of just dance.” 

That philosophy allowed her to discover an interest in psychology and mental health without sacrificing the rigorous dance training she wanted. 

Her experience gave Katya and Victoria an inside look at the program, but both wanted to make their college decisions independently. 

“I wanted to see how I could go to TCU and become my own person,” Katya said. “I was able to also pursue another degree, and they encouraged that.” 

Victoria considered other universities before ultimately reaching the same conclusion. 

“I think what really stood out to me is that I am able to pursue another subject,” Victoria said. “The flexibility the dance program has with that is why I knew that TCU would be the best fit for me.” 

Built-In Best Friends 
Their overlapping years at TCU have also given the sisters something less tangible: a piece of home more than 1,000 miles from Montana. 

Katya had Sasha on campus when she arrived and will now welcome Victoria as Sasha begins her professional career. 

“I'm kind of lucky because I'm in the middle, so I get to experience this very specific point in my life with both of them,” Katya said. “It's always nice to have my built-in best friends, especially when things get stressful and busy. I know I can always rely on them.” 

Still, the sisters have made space to develop their own identities. Sasha sees that independence as one of the most valuable parts of their shared TCU experience. Her sister Katya shares her College of Fine Arts home with TCU’s AddRan College Liberal Arts while she and Victoria split their time with the College of Fine Arts and the Louise Dilworth Davis College of Science & Engineering, but in different departments.  

“We have the same foundation but have different interests,” she said. “I like to say that I inspired their decisions to go to TCU, but what they do with their time there is fully up to them.” 

Those different interests may eventually take the sisters in very different directions. Sasha plans to dance professionally while considering a future in healthcare. Katya hopes to pursue professional dance before a career in criminal justice, while Victoria plans to continue dancing as long as possible while exploring where mathematics might take her. 

For now, though, ballet — and TCU — remain common ground. 

Their parents have embraced the connection, too. Sasha said their mother proudly collects TCU parent gear, their father regularly asks for new TCU shirts, and even the family dog wears a purple collar. 

For Katya, having three sisters choose the same university speaks to what each has found there. 

“It speaks volumes about the level of education and community at both SCCD and TCU,” she said. “I'm proud to be a Horned Frog.” 

-McKenzie Campbell