Elizabeth Maria shares her story!

Elizabeth Maria Walsh
Photo by Philip Anema

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“Don't lose who you are, in the blur of the stars,

Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard, to follow your heart.

Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,

Just be true to who you are..”

- "Who You Are" by Jessie J

            Currently one of my favorite female artists, Jessie J, sings the lyrics written above. These lyrics have never felt more real to me in my life than they have in the last few months. For those who don’t know who I am, my name is Elizabeth Maria, a twenty something year old Latina from Miami, Florida. Here’s my story…

            At the age of 18 I moved from Miami to New York City in hopes of one day becoming a professional dancer and maybe even finding my name in lights. Unfortunately, my first winter in New York I spent on crutches due to an injury. Now, I’m not about to give you a sob story of how I suffered an injury or give you a story about how I healed, but what I will say is that I lost my way a little. I strayed away from my true self. I gave up the one passion I knew my entire life; I gave up the dream of becoming a performer, an artist. After being told by so many that dancing was not a real job, I became discouraged and went back to school to finish my degree. I stayed in New York though; there was something about this city that said, “I’m not done with you just yet.”

            About a year ago I was having a conversation with a good friend of mine, a ballet dancer who was dancing for Dance Theatre of Harlem. I was just about to graduate with my bachelors and ready to settle into a 9-5 job. I was having doubts about the direction my life was going. Not one to regret any decisions in my life, I was simply unhappy and bored. I couldn’t imagine a life where the arts were not involved and a job sitting at a desk. I told my friend how much I admired his passion to pursue his dancing and how I could have never done it. His response was far beyond what I was expecting, he called me “a liar and a waste of talent.” He told me my passion for the arts was always there, I was just scared. Needless to say, he was right. The next day I found myself in ballet class for the first time in I don’t know how long.

Photo by Steph Mas

            The next few months I dedicated myself to getting back into shape. I figured I’d give myself the summer to really go for it to see if I could do it. That summer I fell in love with dance again, remembering what it was like to move and be free. It definitely wasn’t the easiest journey but I was finally remembering what it was like to be true to myself. I turned down the 9-5 job and decided that August that I would start auditioning again, getting back into the rhythm of a performer’s life. I was having a hard time finding who I was as a dancer; not street enough for the hip hop world, or bubbly enough for most Broadway auditions, I was once again battling with staying true to myself. 

            While on set for a new Gary Marshall film I began explaining my dilemma with one of fellow actors. He then asked me, “Have you ever heard of a man named Luis Salgado?” DUH! Of course I knew who Luis Salgado was. Mainly knowing about Luis’ work from In The Heights, a show I personally related to especially being a Latina growing up in Miami. He began to tell me a little about R.Evolución Latina, an organization he thought I would blend in perfectly with. I began to do a little research on RL and coincidentally they were holding dance auditions for their upcoming Choreographers Festival. I went to the audition and soon enough found myself dancing amongst so many Latinos just like me. It felt so comforting to be a part of an atmosphere where I could just be myself and not worry about fitting into a certain image. Because of R.Evolución Latina I have not only had the opportunity to work closely with so many great choreographers and inspiring artists but I have been so encouraged and motivated to continue to chase my dreams. Learning to let go and Daring myself to go Beyond, I have been blessed to be a part of a family that keeps motivating each other to pursue their dreams and passions. 

            During the Choreographer’s Festival, I was also fortunate enough to perform alongside Compañia de Danza D1 from Lima, Peru. Witnessing their first experience of coming to New York and seeing not only their incredible talent but their drive and motivation, I was inspired by them to challenge myself as a dancer and more importantly as an artist. What I did not know was that meeting D1 and being a part of R.Evolución Latina would lead to one of the biggest adventures of my life. I am excited to say that for the next six months I will be living in Lima, Peru dancing with D1. Of course I am a bit nervous leaving my life in New York City but the love and positive energy that D1 has, has given me such great confidence that this adventure will be one of the most rewarding times of my life, as a dancer, an artist, and a person. I am so blessed to be a part of R.Evolución Latina. They have inspired me and given me the courage to never stop dreaming. Because of R.Evolución Latina, I “Dare To Go Beyond!”

Elizabeth y los chicos de D1 comparten un desayuno.

DARE TO GO BEYOND!
Photo by James Delayo