Art & Life with Luisa Alvarez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Luisa Alvarez.

Luisa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Waking up around 4:00 am, bumper to bumper on the Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas border for two hours if lucky, just to make it to elementary school on time. Us 4 siblings at after-school daycare until dark waiting for only our mother to pick us up after working all day, drive a couple more hours as we cross the border back to Mexico and do it again the next day.

It sure was a hassle and was a stressful way of life, but my siblings and I were still happy kids. Our mother showed us how to be happy regardless of what kind of life we had. We were always smiling, laughing, and remain a positive family because of the example she still sets every single day. I remember the excitement in my mom’s eyes on the day she finally was approved to rent an apartment and move to the US. Although she didn’t say and I dread to remember the feeling of knowing deep inside it only meant leaving my dad behind. I missed my dad very much and would go down to Juarez to visit him as was possible, but life in America was going well for all of us. My mom was still working full time but finally went back to school, and she even started studying for her citizenship. I remember the occasional “I’m thirsty” midnight walks into the light of the kitchen where mom would quietly study while we sleep. My siblings and I went from only speaking Spanish onto learning English simply by hanging out with our little 7-year-old neighbor who only spoke English. We started making friends and continuing with our education with such a happy and positive mindset.

My mom raised us on the idea to dream big. We can do whatever we want as long as we are happy. So I did. I wanted to be like Britney Spears in the ’90s, to sing and dance and be a performer for thousands of people and inspire kids like me to dream big.

From the moment I started watching multiple American talent shows on TV about singing, dancing, and different arts, I knew I wanted more of that world. I would watch pop artist performances that would involve dancing on stage and moving to the music than spend hours each day trying to make up my own dance moves and trying to interpret their performances as much as I could remember. We didn’t have cable or could record shows and rewind them like all of my new friends did so my mom would make sure to tell me if she saw something of that sort on TV. I would create dances and perform them to whichever family member came over because I wanted to share how much creativity and hard work I put into it. We couldn’t afford dance class until much later when I was 16 and in high school, so because of my desire to dance and perform and to express myself through the art of dance, from the moment I joined my first dance class at New Horizons Dance Academy in El Paso, I never took one day for granted. Practicing and staying at the studio until dark, joining all different kinds of dance groups at the academy and making my sister pick me up late at night then wait for me because I never wanted to stop dancing.

I continued my Ballroom and Latin Dance education and received my college degree in Dance along with many other different styles of dance, including Ballet, Modern, Contemporary, Jazz, Hip Hop, and more. Ballroom and Latin partner dancing have always had my heart, and as a Latina, I’m in my element. I continue to train and learn from the best people in the business and from our locals in Arizona.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I have my own business as a Professional Ballroom Dance Instructor, Choreographer, and Professional Competitor. Teaching social and competitive dances in Arizona and all over the United States. I teach people of all ages and from all kinds of backgrounds every day and am in love with the culture as much as the state and the people in it. Whether it’s through Private lessons, Group classes, Weddings, Quinceaneras, Sweet Sixteens, Competitive Routines and more, I love spreading and giving people the joy of dancing along with the many benefits of dancing. I’m passionate about teaching because it gives me the ability to give back and enhance or completely change a person’s life for the better through my form of art, Dance.

Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
In my opinion and experience, I believe that because of the internet and social media, we are in an amazing time to showcase our art as dancers. This is because dancing can only be shown through our body movement. I mean, even the worst technical dancer can graduate with a Dance degree just as the best technical dancer out there. I’m not putting down college education, but a piece of paper is not going to show the world how good of a dancer/creator/artist you are, although the internet and social media can prove it. Since people have different interests in dance movement, we are able to show our creativity to the world with a quick share online. We can let people into our artistic ways without it costing them money. Whoever is looking to hire a dancer can literally type in specifics on the internet and can even see who they are as an artist and as a person. That in itself opens up all kinds of opportunities.

I believe that every city should step up to support our locals and the small business in it. With even the smallest bit of time, love, respect, and encouragement, the city and its people will thrive as a community and be better together as they can inspire the world to do the same.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can check out my social media accounts (links below).

Contact Info

• Phone: (480) 474-7162
• Email: dancewithluisa@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancewithluisa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancewithluisa/ or https://www.facebook.com/prodancerluisa
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/dancewithluisa

Image Credit:
Cathy Marshall
Ydali Acosta
Saiaf Films
Julian Lopez

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.