R.Evolución BWS intensive has been a pivotal point in my career as a performer. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to focus only on my craft and growth as an artist, to have met fantastic teachers, as well as a wonderful group of artistic peers.
Being in a room where we’re in a safe space to be ourselves, make mistakes as we learn, have fun, and be encouraged, while also pushing ourselves to go “beyond” in our craft, to me meant that I gave myself permission to let go of the judgments and negative thoughts that I usually tell myself when in class or auditioning.
Seeing that people appreciated me, mistakes and all, made me appreciate my learning process, and taught me to be more compassionate with myself and leave space for curiosity and growth instead of judgment and beating myself down when things don’t go the way I wanted them to.
It was so inspiring having teachers like Natalia, who not only taught dance technique but also the importance of the mindset of a dancer while being in class or in an audition. Or Shani teaching us to honor our Latin dances and make them as clean as possible when putting them in a show. A specific moment in class that inspired me was when Natalia told us, “don’t wait till it’s perfect to be you.” It changed my mindset immensely on how I show up for classes and auditions.
The importance of community in the arts is vital for me, and this workshop was no exception. Every teacher, staff member, and peer was rooting for everyone in the room. The feeling of support, and everyone pushing each other, is something that I will never shake, and I’ll take it into every room I enter from now on. Because to me, that’s what makes theatre special—having people who root for you, the feeling of growth, and the energy that we all feed into each other.
One thing that I learned is that in order to grow, we’re supposed to make mistakes, because in those we find areas of improvement and growth. I also learned about myself that I am capable of doing everything I set my mind to. Before, I would tell myself that, but after this workshop, I truly believe that my growth is possible—and with growth comes being able to attain my dreams.
Thank you to everyone at R.Evolución Latina for pushing me to Dare To Go Beyond.
