Today we’d like to introduce you to Rudy Garcia.
Hi Rudy, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
From my earliest memory as a child, I can say I’ve always had an immense love and passion for the arts. Growing up, I remember all I would do is color, draw, listen to music, watch movies and do anything that involved being creative. Little did I know, I’d be a creative for the rest of my life. I tried sports and many other activities, but nothing really made me feel alive like the arts did. Around the age of 8, my dad decided to put me in Karate. I really enjoyed it because of the structure and discipline it brought to my life. I remember thinking to myself “this is setting me up for dance!” I stuck with Karate for a few years and ended up getting my black belt at the age of 14. Once I got to that point, I knew it was time to transition to dance. It was now 2009 and my aunt, Susie Garcia, had just opened her own dance studio. I was ready to take the leap and try a dance class. The minute I stepped foot into the studio, I knew dance was going to be part of my life forever. Taking class, hearing the music, breaking a sweat, and watching other dancers just felt right; it was like second nature to me. I would work so hard because I wanted to be the best. I would leave each class/rehearsal and review the steps in my mom’s car, in the shower, and watch the videos before going to sleep. As cliche as this may sound, I found my first love and all I wanted to do was DANCE! Fast forward to 2013, it was time to graduate high school and I didn’t know what I wanted to study in college. Not to mention, I went to City of Hialeah Educational Academy where the school’s main focus was Police and Firefighting. Everyone was getting accepted to elite colleges and already getting into the police/fire academy and I was still undecided. I tried to apply to other colleges, but it just didn’t sit right in my stomach; all I wanted to do was dance. I thought to myself, “I can be a professional dancer without a degree, but why not go to school and study dance?” Which is exactly what I ended up doing. I auditioned for New World School of the Arts and didn’t get accepted because I showed up to a conservatory audition with sweatpants and a t-shirt. One of the ballet instructors told me after warm-up to take off my sweatpants so he could “see my lines with my tights.” Not knowing I needed tights for this audition and realizing how unprepared I was, I looked at him defeated, and knew at that moment it was a wrap for me. Three months later, I went back and auditioned again, this time with tights, and I got accepted! I graduated from New World in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts. Those four years were the hardest of my life because I was in college, teaching and training in my aunt’s dance studio, while also being a professional dancer. I was able to work with some of the biggest Latin artists in the world during that time like Maluma, J Blavin, Daddy Yankee, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, and more. Thankfully, I was able to manage and experience the best of both worlds: commercial and concert dance. After graduating, I stayed in Miami for a year and a half and was in a company called Peter London Global Dance Company where I stayed training in modern dance. In July of 2018, I was dancing in an Award show called Premios Juventud and well-known choreographer, Janelle Ginestra, who I looked up to, was choreographing at that same event. I remember being extremely nervous and getting in my head about my dancing, but I thought to myself, “just be you, try your best and you’ll be fine.” I was conflicted during this time because I knew I wanted to leave Miami, but I couldn’t find the courage to do so. It wasn’t until she told me at one of the rehearsals to move to LA that I believed in myself and made the jump. In September 2018, I decided to move to Los Angeles, CA to further my dance career. I’ve been extremely blessed to have been able to live in LA for the past 4 years and solely dance/choreograph.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think I can speak for most artists, that it isn’t always a smooth road to success or comfortability. Choosing dance as a career is definitely scary because it isn’t the most stable job; the instability is what most dancers struggle from. Sometimes you don’t know when the next gig is or if you’ll have enough money to make ends meet. Sometimes there’s a job in which you’re the perfect fit, but you don’t get it because you’re not friends with the choreographer or they just don’t like you. There’s been times that I’ve heard about auditions after they’re over and I wasn’t aware of them because I didn’t have a big enough following. The arts are hard and honestly, very subjective. You definitely need thick skin, a good head on your shoulders, and a strong support system to get through it. One of my biggest struggles has been, and still is, my body type. I’m not exactly “the look” people are usually casting for. Most of the time, they want guys who have six-packs dancing shirtless for artists, and that’s just not me. I used to go to auditions and pray they wouldn’t ask me to take my shirt off. After a while, I caught myself not auditioning to avoid the embarrassment. After a lot of self-work, I’ve come to love my body, but it wasn’t easy. I now know who I am and what I bring to the table, which is key to being a successful dancer.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a dancer and choreographer for the past 13 years. Growing up, I trained in many dance styles, but what I specialize in and often teach is Jazz Funk and Contemporary. I think those two genres got my attention because they made me who I am today. When dancing and choreographing contemporary, I’m able to say how I feel through movement because sometimes I can’t find the right words to express myself. It also feels liberating to hear a song, get lost in it, and become a different character. Jazz Funk, on the other hand, is a lot more fun. I feel like I’m able to show a little more of my attitude with this genre, especially when dancing to up-beat music. Being Cuban & Salvadoran, I enjoy dancing to Reggaeton music because it feels like home and that I’m doing it for my culture.
I think I’m known for being a clean dancer. I love being able to execute what the choreographer wants and making their vision come to life; it makes me feel good. Another aspect I’m known for is always giving 100% of my energy to what I’m doing and being respectful to everyone in the creative process because I would want others to do the same for me. Last, but definitely not least, I’m known for my full-out dancing. I grew up being taught to be full-out and, honestly, it’s helped me a lot in my career because I’ve had the right stamina, performance, and strength behind my movement!
I feel like people get jaded quite quickly being in the industry. Therefore, I’m most proud of who I am, the love I still have for dance, and the energy I give to everything I do.
I’ve had the opportunity to choreograph for the Miami Heat Dancers, Marlin’s Mermaids, J Balvin, and Nacho, to name a few. One of the biggest and coolest jobs I’ve been lucky enough to be part of was being a stand-in / assistant choreographer for J-Balvin’s “Arcoiris” tour and Coachella set.
What are your plans for the future?
I see myself having my own dance studio in the future. I’d like to give the same opportunities that were given to me to my students, and that’s by sharing my experiences, knowledge, and love I have for dance with them. Being able to see someone I’ve trained grow up and spread their wings is probably the most gratifying feeling. The end goal is to change people’s lives, make a difference, and keep my legacy alive!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rudygarcia___?igshid=Zjc2ZTc4Nzk=
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0P5eolaLatY8WeoqR7MLwA
- Other:www.tiktok.com/@rudygarcia___
