We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Daniel Palladino. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Daniel below.
Hi Daniel, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
Ever since I can remember I was always applying myself to most things in my life. I grew up in an environment where work ethic was mandatory, never optional. I was fortunate to have individuals to look up to from a young age who influenced my understanding of what it means to apply oneself. My father came from a humble up bringing where material goods and food was not as abundant. His perspective on consumption of food and material goods derived from a point of scarcity. I was constantly told and shown to work hard for the things you want, money does not grow on trees, and food is a privilege; do not over consume nor waste it. However, it is important to state I was privileged to never know what it meant to experience a life in scarcity. I was fortunate to live comfortably due to my parents work ethic. These early memories fuelled my work ethic. My sister, Nicole, was another pivotal individual in my life who informed my understanding of a strong work ethic. Once I started to attend Nicoles soccer games and observe the way she applied herself to life, something was ignited in me. I saw the direct translation to when an individual applies oneself with determination, passion, and grit, you can potentially accomplish ones goals. My sister Nicole always strived for better. She demonstrated how complacency will not help an individual grow into their fullest capacity. I owe much of my success to my family and the way they informed my understanding of work ethic.
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 was born and raised in Canada, coming from a very family oriented household. With my cultural identity being Italian: passion, food, family, and friends are very significant values in my life. I would always be dancing at family gatherings and functions. My parents and family noticed how frequently I would be dancing and enrolled me in lessons around the age of nine. I chose to immerse myself in all things dance. I attended a performing arts high school and competitive dance studios throughout my youth. I would travel abroad to study dance at mostly university summer programs. My senior year of high school, I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to attend The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, obtaining my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. Those 4 years of undergrad school shaped the artist I am today. There was a heavy concentration in choreography which in turn has helped fuel my artistic endeavours. Post graduation, I joined Dallas Black Dance Theatre, where I have been performing with the organization since 2022. I have been able to meet many other artists and leaders along the way. I have been able to see much of America and a few parts across the world. As a choreographer who is still developing their voice, I think my work predominantly is a reflection of my current state of life. The process often starts with questions. There is less of a linear narrative. As a performer, I am interested in bringing forth my personal experiences and emotions to any work I am in. I am interested in humanizing dance, feeling authentic emotions as a performer and as an audience member. I think dance has the ability to question norms in ways words can not. I think body language is as impactful as the sentences we speak. The most beautiful but taunting thing I have been experiencing as a dancer is never feeling complacent. There is endless room for growth and developing my understanding of why and how I dance. My body is a vessel. A vessel for what? It seems as if it keeps changing. I am interested in finding better ways to dissociate from dance. I am interested in being less consumed by my career. Diving deeper into other parts of myself, other interests, and values.
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?
Throughout my journey as a dancer, one of the most impactful areas of knowledge would be receiving anatomical training; understanding the function and mechanics of the human body. Once I started to take anatomy and cross training, such as pilates and yoga, I noticed a huge shift in my skill set as a dancer. I started to understand how moving efficiently can increase the longevity of a dancers career. I started to understand the mechanics of the body and how certain intrinsic (internal) muscles can help to sustain the body. However, anatomical training can only prevent injuries to a certain degree. The demands for a professional concert dancer are very tedious and physically rigorous. With such high demands requires much restoration for the body. I have learned that my body does not have the same come back as it did when I was younger. Finding restorative practices to help heal and regenerate the body is essential for the longevity for a performing artist. I am still discovering what those restorative practices look like for me. I would highly encourage young dancers to be aware of how the body changes, to start to develop restorative practices like using a foam roller, acupuncture, hot bath, etc. I would also encourage young dancers to seek out sustaining activities that bring some sort of escapism. What helps bring you back to yourself?
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I have always been interested in investing effort on improving areas I am not as strong in. Specifically in regards to the dance industry, especially in concert dance companies, dancers need to be very well rounded. Most concert dance companies require individuals to have as strong understanding of technical foundations in many forms. You rarely see one form or style of dance being performed in a company, even classical ballet companies. Speaking on my experience in Dallas Black Dance Theatre, I have to be able to embody house fundamentals, classical ballet principles, and contemporary release techniques. Without a strong understanding of these modalities, I would not be able to execute the demands of the job. The more I continue to work as a professional dancer, the more I realize a broad and diverse skill set will sustain an artists career. Being adaptable and the ability to execute a range of styles will most likely increase financial sustainability for a professional dancer. For most working professionals, a single job in the arts will not be sufficient enough to make a living income. Being well rounded will open more doors for other jobs and opportunities that could potentially sustain an artists career. I am a full time dance teacher on top of my performing career. For many professional dancers, they also choose to teach dance to supplement income.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: d_palladino
- Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/892923826/29dd5557db?share=copy
Image Credits
Orange background -Nick Glover Black and White – Kent Barker Other Photos (outdoor) – Sofia Opel
