Meet Gabrielle Potapenko of “The Empire Strips Back.”

She traded the “charm of the South” for the “dazzling lights of Las Vegas” about six years ago to chase her dreams of a thriving dance career.

Currently a dancer in the Rio’s hit show, “The Empire Strips Back,” Gabrielle’s dance journey has taken her on quite the adventure. She shared some of it exclusively with The 702 Vegas.

Gabrielle Potapenko Started Dancing As A Toddler

Gabrielle found her love for dancing at the young age of 3 when she was living in Zachary, Louisiana.

“I’ve always loved dancing, and how it made me feel like I could leave everything at the door and just move,” she told The 702. “It’s inspirational how much dance builds resilience and strength in us.”

For Gabrielle, it really “kicked in” when she was 11 and nearly lost her leg from above the knee due to Osteomyelitis.

“I had many mosquito bites all over me and with dancing, it allowed infection to set into my bone. I was in a lot of pain but after multiple surgeries, IV fluids, a wound vac on my leg, at home therapy, and a PICC line to my heart, I am thankful for my journey,” she explained. “My family, my faith, my surgeons, and the people closest to me are the reason I am even able to walk today.”

A specific dance memory that sticks out for Gabrielle is from when she was graduating high school at 17-years-old.

“I was also in rehearsals for Curtis Braly’s music video in Houston, Texas. What’s funny is that I actually missed my high school graduation to be dancing in the music video, and the artist told me to go get my cap and gown to walk across the set for my family,” she shared. “It was a very special moment for everyone and so sweet.”

Remembering The Struggle And Never Giving Up

Gabrielle, 24, recalls that time when things were quite intense in the hospital when she was younger and how it took months to be able to walk again and years to dance again.

“I lost so much flexibility and had to start from scratch which then inspired me that moving forward, I had to dance with no regrets and know that the little girl all those years ago would be so proud to see me now,” she continued. “So my inspiration now for dance is keep moving and acknowledge that you almost didn’t get to do this. So keep going for yourself and never give up.”

She realized that she wanted to dance professionally when she met her mentor, Desiree Robbins. Gabrielle said she “took me under her wing during my high school years, guiding and inspiring me in ways I never expected.”

“As her assistant at Dance League, I had the privilege of engaging in countless conversations about my aspirations and the goals I wanted to achieve while traveling all over the US as well as being in school. Her encouragement fueled my passion for dance, and I felt more confident than ever about pursuing this path so after graduating high school at 17, I took a leap of faith and moved to Las Vegas,” Gabrielle told The 702. “I enrolled in TAPS, Theatre Arts Preparatory School under Don Mirault, immersing myself in the vibrant dance scene and dedicating myself to my craft while also learning the business, singing, acting, how to even do aerial arts.”

She credits hard work and perseverance for booking multiple gigs, commercials, contracts, and even signing with her agent at Go 2 Talent Agency.

“Each step has been a testament to the foundation that Desiree helped me build alongside my family being very supportive of my career, and I’m excited to see where this journey takes me next,” she said.

Gabrielle Potapenko’s Current Show And The Gigs That Led Her There

Gabrielle has been part of “The Empire Strips Back” at the Rio since May 2025. Before that, she has a long list of shows and gigs she was a part of.

“Prior to ‘The Empire Strips Back,’ I performed in ‘Le Cabaret’ at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, appearing in 10 shows per week under the choreography of Jkay Choreography and Tonya Tovias,” she said. “My television credits include HBO’s ‘The Real Magic Mike Live’ and NBC’s ‘This Is Us’ as a dancer with choreographer John Charron.”

Other credits include – opening for Justin Timberlake at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, performing as a Main Stage Dancer for Gwen Stefani’s New Year’s Eve celebration, Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve show, as well as New Year’s Eve performances with Journey and Carrie Underwood, performing inside Salvage City Supper Club at Electric Daisy Carnival, performing with Jack Harlow and Kaytranada at the Hollywood Bowl Homecoming, appearing as a featured “Mars” dancer for the Polaris Launch with Diplo, Lyra artist at Odyssey Noir, performing onboard Royal Caribbean International, and working under ShoWorks/Bart Doerfler as a dancer at Canobie Lake Park.

“My very first show was at Canobie Lake Park performing in a Bruno Mars tribute show as well as a twisted circus show. I remember getting the nervous jitters listening to the audience get ramped up before the music started, but I feel like I was more than prepared so all of those nerves went right back,” she said. “It was such a fun contract to be on and I got to experience so much in those 6 weeks.”

More About Gabrielle’s Current Show And Being A Professional Dancer In Las Vegas

Gabrielle shared the best part about being in her current show, “The Empire Strips Back,” saying that she gets to bring the “galaxy’s most iconic characters to life in the most fun, unexpected way.”

Currently, she “blasts on the stage” as Boushh Leia, Boba Fett, an Officer, and a Stormtropper.

“As the show’s grown, so have I,” she said. “Now I also get to roll into the R2-D2 Leia solo in some of my shows, and even step in as backup for other roles when needed. Every new track is a new challenge, helping me level up my choreography, push myself as a dancer, and keep growing as a performer in this wild, galaxy far, far away.”

While discussing things that perhaps many people don’t realize about being a professional dancer in Vegas, Gabrielle shared that injury prevention is a lifestyle – ice baths, physical therapy, massages, Pilates, and more.

“The hardest part of being a performer is that while you’re chasing your dreams, you’re often missing the people who mean the most and that distance never gets easier,” she said. “When I bow, I always think of my family being right there with me.”

Gabrielle’s dance journey has taught her many things, but the most valuable lesson has been to “never give up on my dreams and embrace every ‘No’ with the same passion as every ‘Yes.’”

What Gabrielle hopes for her future is to continue her career and one day have a “dancer/specialty performer role.”

“A goal for myself down the road is to establish a mentorship-based dance training program that I can travel with,” she shared. “And who knows what I’ll do in the business side of this crazy life one day.”

As for her downtime in Sin City, Gabrielle enjoys nights in with friends, reading, painting, and doing things that inspire her. She loves to visit the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, the very spot that her soon-to-be-husband proposed to her.

For more information about “The Empire Strips Back” and to get your tickets to a future show, visit their website.