We recently had the chance to connect with Suki Lopez and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Suki, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
I think everyone, children and adults are struggling with connection. Connection with each other, with their peers, with themselves and with the world. We’re living in a time where we have to compete with devices and technology to win someones attention and even take back our own. We allow our phones to rob us of everything from conversations, to sleep, to moving our bodies and even socializing. It’s the reality we are living.
These apps and games are designed by experts to keep us occupied with very little effort on our part. The challenge is making life more interesting than the device. It’s a battle we have to fight for ourselves and our kids everyday and it can be exhausting but in my opinion it’s absolutely worth the effort.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Suki Lopez. I’m the Artistic Director at MVSA aka Maria Verdeja School of the Arts. I’m also a cast member on Sesame Street. I’ve been playing Nina “la latina” for 10 years and counting. My Mom started MVSA almost 40 years ago now. I myself grew up training at MVSA my entire life. It gave me all the base tools I needed to go on to a successful career in the performing Arts. I can truly say I had accomplished all of my dreams by the time I was 30. I performed with Disney, toured with the Broadway revival of West Side Story, then booked and had to turn down Shakespeare in the Park to take my role as Nina on the longest running children’s TV series ever. Got Married to my amazingly supportive husband and moved back to Miami to start our family. At that point, I knew exactly what I had to do next but I was admittedly hesitant. I had big shoes to fill. My Mother, Maria Verdeja built a legacy with MVSA and if she was going to allow me to take the wheel I needed to be prepared, not only to maintain it, but to improve it to the best of my ability. The goal has always been to strive for excellence. So I dove into learning about our students and our families. What do they really want? What do we collectively value? How can I make this a better experience not just for the students, but for the parents and caregivers that give so much of their time to make sure these kids have access to the arts and all it’s magic.
These questions lead me to bring back our Workshop Program for students who wanted to perform more and feel a sense of belonging without having to commit to a competitive team. I brought in Musical Theater classes that center around jazz technique, storytelling through movement and celebrate the unique qualities each individual student brings to the stage. It also lead me to start a chapter with The National Honors Society for Dance Arts and offer classes like Leaps and Turns and Dance Team workshops to give our junior high and high school students what they need. Recognition for their efforts in maintaining excellence in the dance world as well as academics and a chance to earn a spot on a school dance team.
What I’ve discovered has had the most impact are the traditions that have always been there. Events I once took for granted as a student. The observation classes where parents got to come in and witness the hard work. The seemingly silly studio Halloween dances that connected us all and let dance be dance for the fun of it and not just for the results. And of course the End of the Year show that brings so much joy and teaches lessons of collaboration, adaptability, time management, empathy and confidence. These are the moments that connect us.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was actually performing a ballet solo at the End of the Year show when I was 8. It felt good to be trusted with a role, as a child. I was aware that it meant people believed I could handle something important and that in turn made me believe I could handle something important too. Holding the attention of an audience is a powerful thing. The best way I can describe it, is a feeling of fullness. Your whole body is brimming with emotion that’s spilling out from everywhere. The moment you hit that final pose at the end of your number and you hear the applause you feel a rush. It’s exhilarating and overwhelmingly beautiful to have the opportunity to feel BIG as a small person. It’s a sense of pride in your own accomplishment paired with overcoming something scary and the warm feeling of being celebrated all wrapped into one.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Honestly, fear of what others think. That’s been a constant battle. Which is ironic because it is one of the major lessons I work on with my students. I’m always injecting mini lectures in my classes, “Mistakes are part of the process. We need to fail and look silly and be wrong in order to succeed.” I go on to say, “We don’t need to be perfect. All we need to be is our best.” I can’t tell you the amount of times I say that out loud and then have to remind myself to listen to those exact words in my own life.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
For the most part. Yes. I think there are two sides of me that are present at all times and depending on what I’m doing you might see one side of the spectrum more than the other. I take my work very seriously so I can be stern, demanding and at times maybe too bold because I care. A lot. On the flip side I’m also lighthearted and a total goofball. It’s an odd mix but somehow both are true and always present. I try to live on the center of that spectrum. Both side to an extreme are not good on their own but when you have a balance of both you get positive results.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
I’m actually tap dancing AT work on Mondays and on an episode of Sesame Street. So YES!
I’m truly lucky, in that I can honestly say the moments I am at work are some of my happiest. It’s when I’m most present. When I’m teaching, I’m connecting to my class and I’m connecting with my body. I think that’s why students enjoy coming to the studio. They feed off of and mirror that happy energy. When I’m acting it’s the same. My mind, body and heart are all aligned. It’s a joyful task that I’m doing, and it feels good to know that it extends beyond that moment to positive outcomes in the world outside of the set or dance studio. That said, there’s always leg work and tradeoffs that come with having a job that doesn’t feel like work. There will always be administrative duties, scheduling and answering emails etc. that aren’t as fun but it provides the security and stability I want in my life. I would say it’s a fair trade.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mvsastudios.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvsa_studios/
Image Credits
Richard Termin – ( sesame photo )
