We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful CoCo LaFousfous. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with CoCo below.
Hi CoCo, 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?
I would say much of my work ethic comes from my ancestors. My family has always had to work hard to get their slice of the American dream. My great grandfather immigrated from Ireland in search of a better life for himself and worked tirelessly to give his family that same dream. My grandmother was a middle school English teacher, and during the 1960’s fought against a patriarchal society to provide the best life for her children. When it comes to my mother, she joined the medical field as a nurse to help those most in need. She continued the fight against the patriarchy with her work at a Planned Parenthood clinic, as well as a HIV/AIDS medical educator in the 1980s.
As for me, I have always had a lot of drive and desire when it comes to my art. I want to make things that count. I want to make art that evokes feelings and change within a person. Through my work as an Aerial Arts instructor, I strive for my students to leave feeling aware of how much their body does for them, and to feel a sense of self love by challenging the thoughts of “I can’t do that”. As a choreographer I work with my performers abilities to engage with the movement to make each step feel like their own intention. When I am getting ready for a performance, I rehearse and rehearse and rehearse to make every motion seem effortlessly seamless.
Although I often feel as though my career is far from the noble professions of nurses, teachers and the strife of an immigrant. I remind myself that because of their work I am able to pursue my own path as an artist. Knowing fully that I stand on the shoulders of those who wanted me to be the best version of myself. I can only hope that my own work ethic inspires future generations to follow their dreams. No matter how difficult their path may be.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I would classify myself as a performance artist with a specialty in aerial arts. In terms of a traditional work day, you may find me working out, honing dance techniques, flying on an aerial apparatus, writing new choreography, brainstorming new show ideas, and experimenting through movement. And all of that is just to keep my mind and body prepared for performing in shows or teaching aerial and dance classes. I am also in charge of promoting my classes, my shows, and my brand, whilst creating what many would consider engaging social media content. So often I feel as though I am chasing down likes and views in the digital world in the hopes of receiving more opportunities in the real world. There is plenty of joy and fun in my work, but that doesn’t diminish the efforts of maintaining this artistic career.
Yet much like a baker’s reward for hard work is a tasty treat; my reward for all of this hard work is much more than a paycheck. The euphoria I feel when I see my own performances reach new heights, when I watch a student achieve progress in their abilities, or when I catch myself entertained by my own social media content is a feeling unparalleled.
As a performing artist in the 21 century it sometimes feels as though “What don’t I do?”. Which can certainly be a disheartening frustration; I do my best to challenge those feelings with “What can’t I do?”
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?
Three great qualities that have significantly helped me early in my career may be simple but they are extremely effective. Foremost is punctuality. If you want to make a bad impression then arrive late. If you want your impression to be based on merit, arrive early. Nobody likes to wait. On top of my punctuality I do my best at being prepared for anything. Know what is expected and keep an open mind to new opportunities. As a performing artist, the work I put into maintaining my physical skill sets is just as important as performance itself. It can be very tempting to rest on one’s laurels but when the stage lights go on if the muscle memory isn’t there, the performance will be lacking. Of course neither of these qualities will take you far if you don’t get out and submerge yourself in your creative field. This is a skill set that takes a lot of effort from me. I am a more introverted and unsociable individual. I prefer quiet night ins with my cats, books, and video games. But as a performer, if you are not networking then you are closing yourself off to unknown opportunities. Learning to find a new comfort zone and getting to know new folks has been challenging for me. I can get anxious, flustered, or even the dreaded awkward. Yet the rewards of working with incredible artists has made it all worth the struggles.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
Throughout my life I have risen above many challenges. From growing up in a poor household, to navigating the education system as a neurodivergent, moving across the country to start a new life, writing/directing my own dance and aerial theatrical productions. Yet this challenge is like no other, and one that many of us are facing in a post pandemic world. The pandemic took something from all of us, and that grief is a struggle we face day to day. I lost one of my closest friends during that time. The news came so unexpectedly I could hardly believe it. It was a heartbreaking shock; a lightning strike on a clear day. When she left this earthly plane she took a piece of me with her. Since I had moved to LA I had choreographed 3 aerial theatre shows, all written with her in mind. How she moved, her energy, and her never ending encouragement inspired me deeply.
Now, as I try to return to that creative place of writing or choreographing a new show, I find myself at a loss. The well of inspiration, the boundless light, and the fuel of my process is something I am struggling to find without her. Staring at empty pages, trying to will myself to create something new, something of my own. I know I am not alone in the heavy grief, but because loss feels so personal it can easily become isolating.
Thankfully I have been fortunate enough to find healing through art and talk therapy. Slowly I have been able to breathe life back into the space left by her memory. Each day is its own challenge. Some days productive and easy, others slow and laborious. But in my heart I know she would not want me to stop creating, she would not want me to give up.
Lately I have been starting to write a new Aerial Dance Ballet. A piece to not only help release my own loss and grief, but to help others. There is still a lot of writing to be done before I can even begin mounting a production. But in my heart I know she is still with me in memory and still proud of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: linktr.ee/cocolafousfous
- Instagram: CocoLaFousfous
- Facebook: CocoLaFousfous
- Twitter: CocoLaFousfous
- Youtube: CocoLaFousfous
- Other: TikTok: CocoLaFousfous
Image Credits
Anna Cicone Photography Carlos Suarez CRS Cinema Behind Burlesque Studio Coco LaFousfous
