Today we’d like to introduce you to Adela Romero
Adela, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Venezuelan Art and Theater Specialist from UCV. Actress, director, acting teacher; dancer, choreographer, singer and fine artist. She started as a dancer in 1978 in Danzas Venezuela and as an actor in 1983 in theater and TV soap operas, alternating with her passion for teaching since then. She relocated to Miami in 2005 after winning a scholarship for soap opera writers given by Telemundo. Currently she is writing a book about her acting and teaching approaches and beliefs. She hasn’t stopped performing for as long as she remembers. Some of her last performances: Abuela Claudia in In the Heights, Chorus in Carmen with the Miami Lyric opera and Consuelo in the On Your Feet 2nd Broadway National Tour 22-24.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s a good question to ask. In my country was not that hard because I started to train as a dancer since I was 8 years old, so at 15 I was ready for a professional start, however, the path until that was full of dancing classes, rehearsal and the rest of the time studying in regular schools. It were in the seventies, different times than today, different techniques and tools, not as effective and fast as nowadays. Then I got into the acting school, college and university. Meanwhile I worked professionally as a dancer in a TV ballet; in my twenties I performed as a dancer and actress in a TV channel…
All this while I was getting my bachelor in Art… Conclusion: I have never stopped studying. Also, I almost forget , when I was 16, my mom opened a Jazz dance school for my sister and me, so I started to teach at that age; I had been dancing, acting and teaching almost my whole career, I had to stop dancing professionally al 25, and focus in my acting career: soap operas, theater, short films… so , I did not have that much time to think about problems or struggling , I have had to work my whole life, study my whole life and teach my whole life. I still doing it at 62.
When I was 40 I decided that I wanted to come to the United States to try musical theater…. I started to train in singing and English language . I got a private English teacher for two hours a day, 5 days a week to prepare myself to be a theater and art teacher in international school with a main goal: to move to the states. I did not have to wait too much, the situation in my country (Venezuela) started to be so difficult for me because I believe in democracy and Chavez arrived to stay. I was very active in all events against the tyranny ; so, in few words I had to leave my country in 2005, I was 43 years old ; with 4 thousand dollars and a suitcase, here I am….
Since then, I have moved 30 times in 19 years.
I have worked as an actor, and singer, and teacher, and fine artist, and selling Venezuelan products and hallacas, and lately, as a beauty advisor in some luxury store…. Smooth, struggles, yes, happiness, freedom, also. But why constantly moving? – contracts in different cities, unemployed periods, projects that didn’t work… lol… different situations, but always, grateful and happy with my life, the life I chose. Now I am 62… I had reached many of my dreams, and I still have a few more to achieve before my retirement from my gypsy life… and be ready to set up down and just teach, paint and write my two books those are being written very slow because I have to focus on another things…
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Rennaissance woman, they say… because I have been trained and professionally developed for a few different specialties in the Arts, I can dance, sing, act, paint, play an instrument, write and teach mostly all these disciplines; I am a happy and creative person, who thanks my family and country for all the preparation I have gotten before I came to the United States.
Since I arrived to the US I have been capable to successfully work doing what I was born and trained for, I have paid taxes since the day one, I have wan a few awards as a fine artist and actor, also as a director, I have been recognized a few times by city government because of my contribution to the community ; however, in contrast of that, with 46 years of continued career, my application for Resident had been denied, not approved, and I still have an asylum and lately a TPS, after almost 20 years working in the United States… But I am so grateful to this wonderful nation and to God for my life and for to be able to do what I love and live for. Thank you so much for this opportunity.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
CONSUELO In the Broadway National lTour of ON YOUR FEET the story of Emilio and Gloria Stefan, was the best experience I ever had on stage, and also, the longest, at 60 years old being on the road in 108 cities, 287 shows … It was a blast. I will always be grateful to Consuelo for all the love she has given me and to all those people from the audience that told me “you remained me my bellowed grandma”. ” “I want a grandma like you” … also to Evan Bernadin, Luis Salgado, all the team backstage and cast for been my family all those two years and forever. Always grateful.
I don’t have room to remember bad experiences….
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @adelaromeroart
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/adelaromeroARTStudio
- Twitter: @adelaromeroART
- Youtube: @adelaromero8108
Image Credits
THE HEAD SHOT IS Javier Ivan
