Ayo! My name is Diego Andrés Gasca and I am a dancer.

 

 

 

I currently am part of the Professional Program at Edge PAC along with 18 others. I've been dancing for 15 years and haven't seemed to get sick of it yet! I grew up here in Los Angeles/Orange County area and immediately following high school went to college at New York University to obtain my BFA in Dance. 3 years and a diploma later, I am back in my hometown city training like I've never done before with a talented group of fellow young artists.

Tell us what you think is the most challenging part to pursue a dance career. Are there things that you must choose away from your life to succeed as a dancer ?

I think the most challenging aspect of pursuing a dance career is accepting the uncertainty of what will come next. In any other line of jobs, I feel there is a chain of command and a certain success ladder you climb if you complete your work properly. With choosing dance as a career, not only is there the physical uncertainty of possibly injuring yourself, but there are also the questions of how long will the gig last, and what jobs will serve most productive in moving your career forward - not to mention the entire financial side of it all and how you could make a comfortable living out of such a competitive and physically-strenous career. It can be absolutely nerve-wracking thinking of all these things, so I try to just take each day as it comes without worrying too much of the big picture this early.

As far as giving up things to succeed, I would say the only thing I ever have to cut back on are my eating escapades. It's not as easy to be mindless in your eating habits when most of your paychecks will be based on pure appearance and physique. It's a burden not being able to always satisfy the cravings I get, but I manage to still sneak a few in here and there. ;)

If you could choose one dream job as a dancer, what would it be?

I always said my dream job (to know I've truly made it as a dancer) was to perform in a stadium and pop out of from one of those levers they use to eject dancers from underneath the stage, and afterwards they go flying up into the air. It always looks like oodles of fun and catches the crowd by surprise, which is just my style. ;)

In regards to people I would like to work with, I would have to say Jennifer Lopez. I feel she's a prominent figure for Latinos and seems like one of the hardest-working artists in the business. Plus, I respect her for starting her career out as a dancer herself before moving on to other ventures. It gives me inspiration and reminds me that I'm not limited to life as just a dancer.

I eventually do wish to choreograph professionally and travel the world, both teaching to and learning.

What are your goals now with dance and how will you get there?

My goals now are to tone up my body and work on my performance and presentation. I was trained with a heavy emphasis on technique all my life that I feel I've overlooked this important chunk that makes up for most of commercial work. I'm still working on bringing out my personality when I perform and adding that little spark that will distinguish me in an audition.

What do you think about a dancer's health? Should a dancer have someone helping them with their diet and training outside the dance studio?

Without their health, a dancer is screwed. Our bodies are literally our insurance policies and they're too valuable for us not to take special care of. We must always be conscious of what we're putting into our bodies, as well as be aware of any places of discomfort that may result in a serious injury. I feel it wouldn't hurt for a dancer to receive extra help from a nutritionist or trainer if they felt it would help them better themselves (as long as they're not being extreme and starting harmful diets). It's never bad to know just what you're using to fuel your body and how you can improve it so you can reach your highest potential.

Are you healthy? How do you stay in shape to be able to work as a dancer?

I'd like to say I'm healthy? Hahaha. I exercise plenty with all the classes we take for the scholarship program, but with that I have to supplement with lifting some weights and of course maintaining somewhat of a consistent diet. Those three things combined make for a strong, healthy dancer, I feel.

If you have a TOUGH day, how do you think to motivate yourself to keep working toward your goals?

I've never had a tough day, so I wouldn't  know.

Jokes. Yeah, those days suck but you just have to trudge through by saying this is what you love to do and are lucky to even be able to do it. Not many people have that luxury and it's what always gets me through when I'm not in a great mindset. I'll ask myself, "If today was my last day of being able to dance, did I move to my fullest? Did I push through the fatigue and soreness and improve at least a teensy bit today?" If the answer is yes to both, then I know I'm that much closer to reaching my goals.

Is there anything you would change about you that could improve you as a dancer?

I'm constantly just working on building up my physical strength and stamina. Taking so many classes nonstop can get tiring fast, but once you train your body to do it week after week, you build a very high endurance level - then it's just about maintaining it. There isn't so much anything I would want "changed" as there is that I'd like to "improve" on.

What's your best advice to anyone who wants to pursue a dance career?

Don't do it. Not unless it's truly your passion and you can see yourself ten years from now still getting joy from it. The technique and everything will fall into place eventually, the one thing that must remain constant is your love for your craft. As long as you have that, you can tackle anything that comes your way.