We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diana Gonzalez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diana below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Diana with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I get my work ethic from my parents. Both of my parents were immigrants who came to the United States in the 1970s. They took any job they could get at the time because they were grateful for the opportunity. Each job they would take would be one step above the last. I remember hearing their stories growing up and being humbled and amazed by how hard my parents worked to provide a home for my siblings and me. I have looked at all my jobs with respect and as opportunities to learn and grow.
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?
I am a dancer, choreographer and co-owner of World Dance Orlando. I have been dancing for 37 years, teaching and dancing professionally for 21 years. I was trained by Suspira of Orlando Bellydance Inc and was a teacher/choreographer at Orlando Bellydance for 16 years. I teach dancers of all levels in bellydance, sword dancing, Hawaiian hula, Tahitian dance, Colombian folk dances, samba, burlesque, and SOCA. I believe dance should be fun, judgement-free, and accessible to all.
World Dance Orlando was established in the summer of 2018. Our experienced instructors teach a wide variety of adult dance classes across the Central Florida area including Bellydance, Samba, Polynesian, Bollywood, Fusion, Heels, and much more! Also established in 2018, World Dance Orlando is the proud sponsor of Obsidian Fox Dance Company, a mix of our instructors and professional dancers who fuse all of our different dance styles to entertain in local events across Orlando. World Dance Orlando’s classes and workshops are located online as well as in-person throughout the Orlando, Florida area. We warmly welcome students from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, and no experience is necessary (ages 14 and up). You don’t have to be young or fit to enjoy all the benefits of dancing! Our classes are open to all levels of dancers and we absolutely welcome and encourage beginners to attend! Our instructors will give you tips on proper technique and allow you to work at your own pace while also encouraging you from week to week. We offer both online and in-person person classes and workshops in the Central Florida area. Stay up-to-date with our upcoming classes, workshops, and events by visiting:
Website: www.worlddanceorlando.com
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: @WorldDanceOrlando
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?
The three areas of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were: 1) Not pigeon-holing my self into one career path; 2) Being empathic and understanding to others; and 3) Being eager for knowledge.
My advice to folks who are early in their journey is to not limit or pigeon-hole yourself. There is always a learning opportunity in everything we do. Keep your mind open to experiences because who knows, you may find your purpose/dream job down the least likely path.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
The number one obstacle I am currently facing is setting work/life balance. I currently have 2 full-time jobs. I am an engineer for the Navy by day and a dancer/instructor by night. I absolutely love both of my careers and I go above and beyond for both. That being said, I have little spare time for any downtime/rest. I am working on setting better boundaries using a very helpful workbook called, Designing Healthy Boundaries. I have started small by limiting my availability to within working hours. I would like to get to a point where I can take time off without feeling guilty.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worlddanceorlando.com
- Instagram: @WorldDanceOrlando
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worlddanceorlando/
- Youtube: @worlddanceorlando9471
Image Credits
Jesse James Savage Land Pictures Carrie Meyer The Dancers Eye
