Today we’d like to introduce you to Cultura.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Cultura. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was born in Miami and then moved to Los Angeles when I was 8 years old (1999). I studied dance, theatre, and music in middle school and high school. Decided to skip college and started working professionally as a dance teacher and music artist.
After years of working as a dancer I decided to focus on music and performed in several PRIDE and other LGBTQ events across the US.
In 2016 I booked a world tour dancing for Ariana Grande as the only female dancer amongst 9 other men. (Dancing as one of the boys)
In 2017 I moved back to Miami to fully pursue a career choreographing for Latin artists. In the 9 months of living in Miami I have choreographed for Wisin y Yandel, Nicky Jam, Pleasure P, Karol G, Abraham Mateo, J Balvin, JenCarlos Canela, Premios Juventud, and Premios Tu Mundo.
I currently teach dance at Millennium Miami and Showstopper Studio.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s a struggle trying to convince artists that you need to pay dancers and choreographers more. Most companies and managers and artists think that dancers are just hobbyist and don’t realize that dance is a career and so the pay needs to reflect that. What we do takes years of training and doesn’t happen overnight. I’ve had jobs taken away from me because my rate is too high and they would rather pay less qualified people then invest in the art.
Please tell us about Cultura.
I’m a choreographer and music artist. I choreograph music videos, tours, commercials, you name it. I specialize in combining hip hop and urban street styles with Caribbean movement.
My music is reflection of who I am. Latina, queer, and a dancer. My Culture is me, Cultura.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over I would have taken things more serious early on. I have a tendency to be lazy and unmotivated. I would have forced myself to only hang out with people who were inspiring me instead of staying complacent.
Pricing:
- $500 – (minimum) per show / shoot day
- $250 – 4-8 hour rehearsal (anything over 8 hours is time and a half)
- $175 – 1-4 hour rehearsal (anything over 4 hours is time and a half)
- $150 – (minimum) travel day / retainer
- $50 – (an hour) fitting outside of rehearsal day
- $50 – per diem domestic (a day)
- $75 – per diem international (a day)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.itscultura.com
- Email: booking@itscultura.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/itscultura
- Facebook: facebook.com/ladycultura
- Twitter: twitter.com/culturababy
- Other: For more info on dancer rates: www.dancersalliance.org/da-rates
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