Meet Oscar Rodriguez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Oscar Rodriguez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Oscar below.

Hi Oscar, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I was born and raised in Venezuela. I lived there until I received my bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. Even though I went through college for five years to get that degree, I still was not sure what I wanted to do with my life at a long term. I moved to Costa Rica at the end of 2010, took my first dance class and that is when everything changed. I got more invested in dance, started taking every single class, signing up for every seminar I could and more and more my passion for it grew. Opportunities started to appear, TV Shows, Musical Theater Productions, and thing lead to the other and I moved to NYC after being accepted in the MFA in Dance Program in NYU Tisch School of the arts. Once I moved to NYC I already knew I was where I needed to be. Sometimes things have happened in my life by luck but every time something happens it helps me to focus and remember that I am where I need to be. In other words, how did I find my purpose? I am still figuring some things out but I constantly remember myself, things have happened for a reason, my purpose is to be resilient, to be persistent and keep going, pursuing my dreams.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a Venezuelan-Costa Rican professional dancer, actor and singer. I am currently building my career in the musical theatre world in the United States. I aim to make the most out of every opportunity I can find, from playing the desired role of Bernardo in Short North Stage’s production of West Side Story, to working directly with important personalities like acclaimed multi-award winner Billy Porter, Hollywood Director Rebecca Miller, and Drama Desk Award winner Stephanie Klemons (OBC of In The Heights and Hamilton).

I moved to New York City after receiving a scholarship at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where I was selected by audition to join the MFA in Dance program. Shortly after my studies commenced, I made my debut at Short North Stage in Columbus, OH, starring as Bernardo in West Side Story. I also had the chance to contribute my Choreography for the “Salsation” duet in Saturday Night Fever, receiving great reviews.

Read what the reviewers had to say, here:

“Oscar Rodriguez projects visceral passion and proud masculinity as Bernardo, leader of the Sharks, The Columbus Dispatch”

“Special attention should be paid to the climactic dance to Salsation (a David Shire instrumental from the original) by Jon Yepez’s Cesar and Gabriela Selino’s Maria Huerta, choreographed by Oscar Rodriguez. Columbus Underground”

During the year 2022, I performed in the musicals In The Heights under the direction of Broadway veteran Stephanie Klemons; On Your Feet!, directed by Dana Iannuzzi and choreographed by Sandalio Alvarez; Evita, directed by Will Pomerantz and choreographed by Marcos Santana; and in a Pre-Production for New York City Center Encores! The Life, directed by Billy Porter.

In February of this year, I traveled overseas to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside 16 dancers casted from a rigorous audition process, to make history performing the first Saudi Arabian musical production ‘Mu’allaqatna: An Extension of Glories’, a show written and composed by His Royal Highness Prince Abdulrahman bin Musa’ad bin Abdulaziz, to celebrate their Founding Day.

My career expands in the TV and Film industries. I performed in the opening numbers for the first two seasons of Dancing With The Stars Costa Rica; I was featured in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story and season eight finale of The Blacklist. In Addition, I was featured in Rebecca Miller’s latest film She Came To Me, starring Anne Hathaway, Marisa Tomei, and Peter Dinklage.

Recently, I will make his debut at the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival in their production of In The Heights, directed by Valeria Cossu and choreographed by Michael Anthony Sylvester.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Be Resilient and persistent. Keep going and stay focused on your goals and dreams

Be authentic. Find your own voice. It is ok to be inspire by others but do so in order to find your own self

Be Humble. In pursuing your goals and dreams keep your feet on the ground.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I normally make the most out of every situation I am involved in but If I somehow knew the next decade would be my last. I would promise myself to never take anything for granted. I would cherish every second of every day. I wouldn’t allow myself to stay in what I like to call the “What if zone”, which is where you wonder what would happen if you do something you are thinking of doing instead of taking action and going for it. By eliminating this barrier you will open yourself to new opportunities and make the most out of them. Even though it turns out to be something you didn’t like or enjoy, you will gain something from the experience that will lead into greater things.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Headshot by Jon Taylor Photo Dance Photo by Alejandro Armas

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