Meet Carlos Neto

 

We recently connected with Carlos Neto and have shared our conversation below.

Carlos , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I believe resilience is achieved through trial and error. It’s not something you’re simply born with, but rather something that develops through your experiences and how many times you face and overcome adversity. Leaving my home in Portugal at 18 to go to Cardiff University, where I had to learn a new language and complete my entire degree and later a master’s degree in that language, was a major challenge. After that, becoming a dancer in a country that wasn’t mine, then moving to London, where despite being within the UK, I had to adjust to a completely different city and make a new life for myself, and finally moving to New York—each of these was a significant life change. And during all of this, without having family around since they were still in Portugal… It meant spending numerous holidays and challenging times alone in different countries. I believe that all of these experiences, living across so many cultures and overcoming the obstacles that come with it, is where I personally get my resilience from. For me, no disappointment or setback feels too big to stop me (so far!) from moving forward. And I know this is something many people who live abroad can relate to as well.

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

I’m originally from Lisbon, Portugal, where I grew up doing martial arts and acting. From a young age, I was always passionate about performance. After completing school in Portugal, I moved to the UK at 19 to study journalism at Cardiff University. I completed both my BA and master’s degree in journalism, but eventually, I decided to move on from journalism to dance. I was fortunate to meet Simon Cowell in 2009, who gave me several opportunities and helped me launch my career. From there, I moved to London and fully committed to a career in dance, performing in West End shows, commercial jobs, and touring internationally.

I spent about eight years in the UK working as a dancer and choreographer. During that time, I trained at Pineapple Dance Studios with several choreographers, which helped shape my style and expand my opportunities. After that, I made the decision to move to New York City to continue pursuing my dance and choreography career. While here, I briefly returned to acting, but ultimately, dance remained my true passion.

This year, I’m planning to teach more all over the U.S., so right now, I’m gearing up for the summer and booking work in advance. I’ll also be launching my new website, which will better showcase all the work I’ve been doing over the past few years. In the meantime, I’m also focusing on my dance community here in New York, where I’ll be teaching a Street Jazz Dance Intensive on March 15th—open to anyone who wants to join. Teaching is something I genuinely love, and it’s important to me to help dancers not just improve their technique, but also develop a deeper understanding of movement and artistry.

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 things that I believe have worked best for me in my career are, one, learning to hear “no” positively. I early on understood that rejection is never personal—it’s simply an opportunity to grow and work even harder. Easier said than done but very important nonetheless! When you are able to absorb a certain level of criticism and not have it affect your mental well-being or your career, you’ll be there for the long term. It’s just part of the job.

The second quality is versatility and flexibility. I’ve always done my best to achieve as much versatility as possible, especially within the street styles umbrella which is what I grew up doing and where my interest was. Even if you’re not proficient in every single style, sometimes, having a good understanding of the movement and culture surrounding a certain dance genre can propel you forward in a very organic way. That adaptability has definitely been a key factor in my career—whether as a choreographer or dancer. Most choreographers wishing to work with you do not expect you to dance exactly like them. They do need, however, someone who can understand their language and deliver it in an honest way. You can achieve that by being as versatile as possible.

Lastly, I think marketing matters. Knowing how to self-promote in a way that’s authentic, understandable, and relatable. I never want to create the perception that I’m pushing myself down people’s throats, but to a certain extent, you do need to be able to “sell” what you do… It’s how the industry works… I believe in trying to achieve the balance where you can mention what you do without overdoing it. It’s about creating a space where people get to know who you are and want to be a part of it.

To everyone on the same path, I’d say—never take a “no” personally; it’s just part of the journey. And if you have friends who are booking work and hiring dancers, never—under any circumstance—expect them to hire you just because of your relationship. Instead, support them, show up for them, and trust that when the time is right, they’ll naturally consider you. I believe that as bad as being ‘entitled’ can be in any profession, in our industry, letting go of expectations truly is key. I cannot stress this enough…The more you focus on your craft and on being a valuable presence in your community, the more opportunities will come naturally. As simple as that.

When it comes to versatility, it’s not just about being flexible in what you do—it’s about expanding beyond that, whether through different styles or different aspects of your craft. And in terms of self-promotion, do it in a way that feels authentic and serves both you and your community. There’s absolutely no shame in putting yourself out there, as long as it’s done with intention and awareness.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One of the most impactful books in my career has definitely been ‘The Power of Habit’. I do read some fiction, but I tend to gravitate more toward self-help books, since I find them more aligned with what I’m looking for—something that can benefit my career, my life, and my overall well-being. I’ll admit, I’m a slow reader (haha), so when I do pick up a book, I try to make it count. ‘The Power of Habit’ really stood out because, as far as I can recall, one of the key takeaways for me was the power of repetition and building discipline over time, rather than seeking instant gratification. In our industry, where things often move fast and there’s a temptation to chase quick wins, it’s crucial to develop that long-term discipline and consistency. And I think that applies to most other industries as well.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Brian Thomas
Kayleen Marie

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Productivity
How did you develop a strong work ethic?

We asked some of the hardest working artists, creatives and entrepreneurs we know to open

Confidence
Breaking Barriers: Succeeding Even When Representation is Lacking

What do you do when no one else in the company or the meeting looks

Mental Health
Thriving Through Adversity & Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it.