Meet Marta Abril

We recently connected with Marta Abril and have shared our conversation below.

Marta, we are so happy that our community is going to have a chance to learn more about you, your story and hopefully even take in some of the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Let’s start with self-care – what do you do for self-care and has it had any impact on your effectiveness?

After having two life-threatening ectopic pregnancies and being declared infertile. My husband and I decided to try an IVF cycle. We were blessed with having triplets. Even though we were super happy with the arrival of our boys, the stress was real. So, a dear friend introduced me and pushed me to take a weekly belly dance class that not only made me connect with my inner goddess but reminded me of how much I needed to focus on my own mental and physical health. I am so grateful that instead of taking anti-depressants and anxiety pills as the doctor recommended, I opted to take dance classes, join a dance company and then got my Personal Training Certification. Twenty years later I still get hired to dance at beautiful events, but I also teach a bi-weekly group class and also teach privates to women who need to be reminded of the importance of being in touch with their beautiful self-thru dancing moves. My sons also benefited by seeing me find my own happiness and my way to deal with stress just dancing.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an immigrant from Argentina. Came to US right after High school, I was 17yrs, old, my mom was 56yrs.old, and my grandma 74yrs. old. No need to tell you how tough it was at the beginning, but grateful to be in this beautiful country. I had taken ballet as a little girl, but my teacher told me I was way too tall, and I was never going to be professional because of my body frame. I have never been too good in sports or any other physical activity. Finally married, had sad and scary experiences with ectopic pregnancies, that’s when the embryo gets stuck in your fallopian tube, and you can bleed to death if not removed. Our families helped us raise funds and try IVF and we were blessed with triplet boys. I had never had any experience with taking care of babies, I had to learn fast, and it was tough on our marriage and on my husband and his responsibilities also. Life became feedings, diaper changing, pediatric visits, therapies for preemie babies, although we knew we were blessed, we were ignorant to what having triplets implied. Baby blues hit hard and the doctor prescribed pills for me to cope. That’s when I decided to find an alternative and found Belly dance. Once a week I would ask my mom and my husband to give me 2hours to go take my class. It helped me so much to focus my mind and learn new moves and steps and play music and move. I so encourage everyone that is going thru a tough time, whatever that is, even if they are physically challenged to just do music therapy, it is medicine. I joined a dance company, and I was so lucky to not only enjoy this beautiful ancient art, but I profited from it helping my family. I then decided to teach different kinds of physical classes. I was hired as a Yoga/Pilates instructor at a company for seven years for their employee benefits program, I also taught Zumba, and personal training as I completed my certification. Now I still teach private and group sessions at a local Studio and at my home. So, if any woman, or men, why not? wants to learn this ancient dance art, everyone is welcome, any age, any dance level, I teach group classes at The Tango Room in Sherman Oaks every Thursday 7pm and Sunday 11:45am. Come on down and join this fun dance therapy.
I also started organizing Dance showcases since 2017. Theses showcases are to promote nationwide dancers and to bring together the community. Our next Dance Showcase is at The Tango Room in Sherman Oaks on Sunday February 9, 2025 from 6 to 9pm. We are actually doing it as a fundraiser for the L.A. Fire victims and part of the profits will be donated to that cause. We will have amazing, one-of-a kind dance performances, not just belly dance, but Indian dance, Bollywood, flamenco and of course tango, there is free parking, free light snacks, tea, coffee and water and one free raffle ticket for a goodie basket valued $450. Hope you all can join us.
I also hope my story helps people focus their stress or whatever it is that is harmful into a positive and constructive activity.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

As cliche as it sounds, you do really need to love what you do. Become a motivational leader but be genuine. How many people out there want to learn Belly dance or take exercise classes with me when there are so many gyms and amazing instructors out there? What makes me different? there is a target market for everyone. I have students whose ages range from 20 yrs. old to 75 yrs. old, and at times some moms bring their kids, and they dance too. I did win a few dance awards, I have been dancing professionally for 20years and teaching for 10years, but there are many amazing dancers and teachers out there. What makes the difference is your attitude, is looking at your students and letting them know how appreciated they are, correcting them if they need to but emphasize their strengths and how much they are improving. Every student comes with their own emotional baggage and their own goals, you cannot apply cookie cutter view in your class. At times, I come with my music playlist and my class planned out with this and that moves, and I see who joined us and I try to analyze and just change what I planned to fit their needs. I always remind whoever is taking the class, because at times I have first timers and more advance students, to not just follow what I do but find their own unique style, to connect with their inner goddess and just flow. Technique is important but you don’t want to dance as a robot. Even my troupe students, as I teach them choreography for events and showcases, I say, I want to see the P of passion, not the P of perfection.
So, in summary, be yourself no matter what, some people will like you, some not, and that is totally ok. Recognize the needs of each of the people that want your services and let them know what you have to offer them to make their lives better. Some will appreciate it, some won’t but at least you tried. Follow up with your students/clients/customers. I find it that some students stop coming and I still reach out here and there, not to stalk anyone, but just to show I truly care. Make sure you do ask what they still need from you and how you can help them.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?

I think we are all struggling right now. Financially especially. My three sons are in college. Their father passed away unexpectedly November 2022. So, I cannot help them as much as I wish I could.
I do have a degree in Business Administration and always had a full-time job as an Office Manager besides working part time as a Spanish English Interpreter, a caregiver for my mother, a cosmetologist and of course as a Fitness/Dance instructor.
Since my mother is very old and needs me full time now, I dropped my other jobs and besides caring for her, I focused on my Fitness/Dance job to also help me cope with this new challenge of seeing my mom age and the new demands that brings.
The economy is stopping a lot of my students want to spend on dance classes, and it is so truly understandable.
At times, I get to the studio knowing that I am spending more money in gas getting there than what I am making, since at times, only one or two students show up. It is tough to keep the spirits up, but I focus on giving it my all and knowing that my body is also benefiting from teaching the class and dancing.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Allan Jay Abril

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