Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Marissa Neola. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Marissa , so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?
Burnout is so real in a creatives process. The pressure to constantly put out work to stay relevant is something that personally puts me in a burnout. Coming up with choreography or a full concept with the intention to just stay relevant started to weigh down my creative process. I overcame it by going back to my roots and purely creating out of INTENTION. I think that’s something that isn’t taught to the younger generation. That taking breaks is beneficial and imperative to growth. There has to be down time for self reflection! If you don’t take breaks, you can plateau or combust from burnout. Intention, I never do anything without intention anymore. I had reached a point of burnout that I never want to be back at again, and so early in my career too. Having intention and purpose for everything I did going forward really helped me stay on a structured path towards my goals. Essentially creating tunnel vision to expedite my career. And people ask me all the time how I maintain momentum nowadays, and I literally say “INTENTION”.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hi!
My name is Marissa Neola. I am a professional dancer, choreographer, and teacher located in Miami and Atlanta. My one purpose in life is to dance. I found it at the early age of 5 and I never looked back. I have been dancing for 18 years and am trained in all styles from pointe to afro. I moved to Atlanta Ga at the age of 18 to get started in my career. From there it has flown by! I am currently signed with Xcel Talent Agency and I owe it all to them for keeping me on track! I have had the opportunity to work with choreographers such as Aakomon, Brandon Jones, Draico Johnson, Jeremy Green, Marc Innis, and many more! I have been able to perform live on tours across the world, television, music videos, and commercials. I’m so grateful to have been able to share space with artists such as Shania Twain, Lil Kim, Jason Derulo, Kat Graham, Dababy, Offset, Kodak Black, Tyler Hubbard, etc. The younger version of myself would be so proud, but there is much more work to do! I’m excited to start expanding out more and reach new audiences, as well as inspire new dancers!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
I think something very important I learned along the way is how to market myself. I am thankful to have friends in the industry that could help me with this. For a dancer, you are your business. And as superficial as our industry is, the way you look, dress, and present yourself MATTERS. The way your present yourself online and in person can truly make or break your career.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Truthfully, my boyfriend, DaeSun Cupid. DaeSun is my partner in crime. He has helped me grow so much as a human and creative. He is also professional dancer and choreographer. Having someone who is knowledgeable in the industry by my side has helped me navigate what I truly want to pursue in!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.marissaneola.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissaneola/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marissa.neola.3/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszDSUv26m36xBNHOEczyrA
Image Credits
@bubba.carr @hannamiddphotos @mitchellseye @uhhvonte
