We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Juarez a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maria, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Knowing that every challenge is a lesson that is preparing me for the future. Everything, good or bad, is happening for my higher good and it took me a long time to realize that. I am a very passionate driven person. Always looking for new challenges and opportunities outside my comfort zone, with this has come a lot of self doubt. Not thinking I can make it and believing im not worth it. There has been so many times where I wanted to give up on my dreams and let my thoughts overcome my resilience. That’s when I step into my perspective shift. Mindset is everything and the way we speak to ourselves can really make us or break us. Train your brain to pick you up when your environment is tearing you down.
I´ve spent so much time trying new routines to figure out what works best for me, for now I would say meditation, affirmations and a gratitude practice have been the reason I remain resilient. Those 20 minutes that I dedicate to myself in the morning, before I go out and experience the challenge that each day brings, help me stay present with myself. It fills me up with confidence and trust that it’s all happening for a reason. Knowing that all the answers I need are already within me – and even though it doesn’t make sense right now, it will all be worth it in the end.
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?
Since i was little I have always had a big love for dance. I started dancing when I was 3 and now I have the pleasure to develop it into a career. Being born and raised in Mexico, my parents made sure I always kept a good balance between dance, family, friends and school. I am so grateful to be so guided and supported by them in all I do. I believe that holds a big space for the person I am now. I not only dedicate my time to dance, but also im very interested in content creation and leadership. I create content for brands in the wellness & beauty category. I love spending my time listening to podcasts and reading books that will improve my skills and knowledge. All these other skills really nourish my abilities to perform, create, and develop my dancing career.
After graduating high school I decided to take a different path and move across the country. I applied to CLI Conservatory located in Massachusetts – which is a dance program designed to prepare students to enter the professional world of dance. Led by Director Teddy Forance and over 100 industry-leading choreographers. Got accepted and was very lucky that my parents could support my dreams. It was seen as a “risk” coming from what the usual choice is made after graduating in my city, but I was so hungry for a new challenge and felt a deep purpose in this choice.
At 18 I moved away from home, to a foreign town with a foreign language. I got trained by the best in the industry and was so grateful to be living my dreams. Started developing other areas in dance as choreography and directing. I got chosen to create a dance film with CLI Conservatory. Choreographed and was guided by Devin Jamieson through the whole Directing process. I experienced so many amazing opportunities and realized that is what I wanted to do.
After graduating I moved back to Mexico and started to take some action in my dreams. At 19 I started online college – majoring in marketing, was teaching in 3 different studios, choreographing and working with different dancers for events, doing content for different brands and doing certificates for leadership.
I had the opportunity to work with JUMP Dance Convention as an assistant and stage manager. Choreographed for a College Dance Event and started to teach a lot. I developed a big love for being on the other side of the table, I love choreographing and leading my dancers to pursue their goals.
After a year spending my time giving back, I figured I was ready for a new challenge in my life. I pursued another big dream, of mine which was to learn from Shannon Mather – a big industry leader, choreographer and person. I have always been so inspired by all of her work and I am so blessed to say that I am currently being trained by her and the faculty at Mather Dance Company. I got accepted in “Bridge into the Industry program” and moved to Los Angeles to fulfill my dreams.
Being an international student, I am so grateful to be so supported by my parents and loved ones to move across the country and fulfill my purpose in life. Everyday I am reminded how lucky I am to train by the best choreographers and learn beside my very talented friends. I aspire to create an environment as full filing as the one that I am in right now and become a big leader in the industry.
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?
First one is visualization – visualize your highest self and show up as her. Is a tool I have incorporated in my everyday life and has made a huge impact in my journey. Gives me a clear guidance in who I want to become and helps me move forward in challenging moments. Be a good person, as much talent as you have, people want to work with good, grounded, loving souls. Spend time reinforcing your values and discovering yourself, make your mind the most beautiful thing about you. Third is keep yourself accountable. Celebrate small wins, make peace with taking breaks because mental health comes first. Stay grateful and remember when you wanted what you currently have. Life moves up and down, so make sure you are prioritizing your happiness always.
One advice I live by is: if it doesn’t exist, create it. If there are no opportunities for yourself, create them and open doors. If you live in a negative environment, create the good energy. Be the person to make the change. You are not crazy, you are just first.
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?
I am a very ambitious person. I want to do a lot of stuff and get big drives to create. The problem comes when my imposter syndrome comes in the table and I start to doubt everything in my head. I know a lot of people in their 20s can relate that we have the hunger to do a lot of stuff, start new things but are also stuck on the idea of what people will say or if its even good enough.
In the experiences I´ve had in my life, I´ve learned that vulnerability is so powerful. It is okay to not know it all. You don´t have to burn yourself trying to be an “expert”. Asking for help won’t make you weak. I have been learning to enjoy the process, and trust timing. Im still in the process of not being too hard on myself so in the meanwhile I like to remember that I don’t have to know it all to prove im worth it.
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