What I've Been Up To
After I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2015, I booked The Beatles LOVE by Cirque Du Soleil as an ensemble dancer. I was hired for the show's "REFRESH" which is basically a large undertaking of hiring new dancers, choreographers, creating new costumes, makeup concepts, and new acts. I learned the existing show and performed that for 6 months while also learning the new show to premiere in July 2016 (LOVE'S 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY). Soon after, I began training in harness and flying in the air almost every night. I paid my dues to become an understudy for one of the main characters in the show, "Eleanor Rigby" as well as a back-up act "Yesterday." I served as Dance Captain for one year and Artist Coach for 4 months, which basically positions me to take care of the dancers' daily track in the show and act as the messenger between the dancers and our coach. It has been nearly 5 years at LOVE and I will celebrate my last show with them February 28th in hopes of pursuing a freelance career with the help of my dance agent and/or dancing in a Broadway musical.
I have also refined my teaching ability and discovered quite a passion for it. I was a Guest Artist in Residence for the UNLV Department of Dance (2016-2017) and came back every now and then to teach. I teach at Nevada Ballet Theatre, The Rock Center for Dance, and I teach adult drop-in at Millennium Dance Complex Las Vegas.
How UA Dance inspired and/or impacted me as an individual
UA Dance impacted my career and future beyond what I ever could have imagined. It gave me the tools to be a dancer who is easy to work with and also knows how to take care of their body with Pilates, strength and conditioning, and applying yourself in ballet class. The professors and mentors associated with UA Dance taught me how to read a room, listen to what different teachers have to say, and realizing that you never have to be just ONE kind of dancer. Soak up all of the different styles, pay respect to them, keep your mind open to things that make you uncomfortable, and always perform. I firmly believe their lessons have brought me to where I am and have given me confidence in my craft.