We were lucky to catch up with Darina Eid recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Darina, 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?
My work ethic has always been ingrained in me, even before I fully grasped the meaning of that term. My mother played a significant role in enforcing this concept in my life. As a child, my “work ethic” stemmed from what I would call my “life ethic.” There were established times for meals, and I understood that leisure activities like playing or watching TV had to wait until after completing my homework and chores. The consistent application of these daily routines became internalized within me.
In my teenage years the time came when I I didn’t even feel like doing activities I enjoyed until I completed necessary ones. My mother often emphasized, “Discipline is everything in whatever you may choose to do with your life.” This principle, cultivated both at home and in school manifested in my dedication to dance training and, eventually, in my professional career as a performing artist.
Also, throughout my upbringing, my dance teacher’s strict demeanor challenged me. Though difficult to endure as a child and later as a teenager, his rigorous approach, at times seemingly excessive and ironically “unethical” due to its severity, later became something I was extremely grateful for. It forced me to work harder and developed resilience within me, which led me to a very thick skin, which was essential to have in my journey to becoming a professional performing artist.
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 an actress and a dancer. My journey with dance began at the age of five, and I’ve always known that being an artist was my calling. Influenced by my father, who faced societal barriers to pursue his passion for dance in Bolivia, I was encouraged to follow my heart and explore the world of art from a young age. Together, we dreamed of a life in New York City, where I could dance professionally.
Inspired by both my father and my mother’s support, I worked very hard to obtain a scholarship to a prestigious dance program in New York, fulfilling a lifelong dream. However, deep down, I held a desire to pursue acting, which I initially thought would come later in life.
After college, I got a contract to perform as an inaugural dancer for 5 brand new shows, and work along side Broadway and celebrity choreographers at a prestigious cruise ship, only to have it abruptly halted by COVID-19. Along the challenges of the pandemic, I found comfort in spending quality time with my family in Bolivia and discovered a newfound passion for acting.
Driven by this new discipline, I immersed myself in acting classes and eventually enrolled in a full-time two-year acting program. As opportunities began to arise, I secured a small role in a movie only a few months into acting school.
While dance will always hold a special place in my heart, acting has become my true passion and the focus of my career.
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?
The three skills, qualities, and knowledge that have greatly impacted my journey are:
Discipline: Since childhood, discipline has come naturally to me, enabling me to achieve my goals. It helps me organize my time effectively, plan ahead, and persevere through challenges. When faced with the unexpected, my discipline allows me to adapt and remain creative. It forms the foundation of my self-reliance.
Passion: I have always been told I am a very passionate person; my passion has always shone through, even when lacking technical proficiency in dance as I was growing up. This intense emotion serves as my driving force, providing purpose and motivation each day. While technique is essential and I hold it sacred, it is my passion that makes me wake up every morning and push forward.
Gratitude: Gratitude is not just a word to me; it is a way of life, ingrained deeply within me to have it tattooed on my body. Living in a state of gratitude is the rock in my journey. Despite challenges, I remember what someone told me once, “No matter what, you’re living another person’s dream.” Those words shook my world and I don’t take anything for granted now.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
Their belief in my potential to become a successful artist and sustain myself through it, despite living in a society where such a notion was uncommon, was remarkable. Where they and I grew up, dance and acting is a hobby, not a career. The fact that from a very young age, they not only chose to believe in me but also supported me in relocating to an entirely different country, making numerous sacrifices along the way for my happiness, is something that will always astonish me. Tears fill my eyes just thinking about it. They trusted me, believed in me unconditionally, and I cannot think of greater love.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.darinaeid.com
- Instagram: @darinaeidh
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/y5Gx66jJeIo
Image Credits
Danilo Balderrama Nicolas Almanza Kirill Slysh Ariana Zabalaga Sid Gopinath Atila Carmona Álvaro Gumucio
