I never dreamed of being an actress, actually. Me, my sisters and my parents came from a small city of S\u00e3o Paulo State (Barretos). My first contact with art was through jazz ballet classes. My mother thought it was important to put us in contact with art and transform our reality, because we lived in a very small apartment, in a not very nice place … My first teacher was F\u00e9lix de Assis, an incredible teacher, graduated from the Municipal School of Ballet. He encouraged my mother\u2026 \u201cYour daughters need to take classical ballet classes, because they have a perfect body for that\u2026\u201d (Look at that human look, right? It was beyond the skin color …) We could see the sacrifice he made to be in art, a huge desire to see those students challenging themselves\u2026 And then my mother took his advice and registered us to make an audition at the Municipal Ballet School, encouraged by him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once I got there, I didn\u00b4t feel a good environment\u2026 We didn’t have enough money to buy the appropriate items for the class (socks, sneakers, hairnet, etc.). I am the youngest (my older sisters are twins), and their schedule wasn\u00b4t the same. I remember wearing a white pink polka dot swimsuit, my mom put a ribbon on my hair. My shoes weren\u00b4t appropriated. My mom was unaware of this world and we also had no money, she did what she could\u2026 The important thing was to dance! I remember being isolated from all the other girls, I was the only black girl. Everyone looked at me as if I were an \u201cET\u201d\u2026 I remember a board of teachers with a very rigid expression – I went through an assessment of potentialities (articulation, elasticity, strength, flexibility ), and I remember them being shocked by my physical structure, my feet, my lines. And they whispered …
At a certain moment they asked for a free dance\u2026 I saw that some girls already had some kind of experience. I believe they were in 1st or 2nd year of ballet school. There was no lightness in the air, no sympathy (classical ballet was like that at that time, the method was even more rigid as it is tody). Than the girls waltzed\u2026 And I danced anything! I was already wearing the polka dot swimsuit and what came to mind was that dancer from the music boxes (I didn’t even have that, we were poor, I remember we saw it in movies). I remember it and started spining, round and round and round, like a pawn!
I grew up inspired by lots of music, art, dance\u2026 My mother always said that we had to transform our reality. We had a sense of where we were standing, what was possible and where she was going with this thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maquiagem no Cinema (Makeup in Film): Tell us a little more about your background and other challenges you faced from that moment on.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We used to watch a dance show on TV Cultura<\/em>, and I was very impressed by one particular group. I did a research on those old phone books, found them and asked my mother to take me. She managed to get out of work on time, and took me there. It was an elite school. Once we got there, the teacher welcomed me very well, she was very kind. The students looked surprised, again, I was the only black girl. I remember that by the end of the class the teacher came to talk to me, and everyone was around us, giving me “that” look. The teacher continued talking about what the method was like, what I needed to learn, as the language was French. And, with a lot of patience, dedication and love, she managed to convince me and my mom that I could go on. As we left the school that day, I remember I said to my mother, “I\u00b4m gonna make it”. And she also said: “You will, I don’t know how I’m going to pay, but we will find a way”. Then we did it. With a lot of sacrifice, love and struggle, we made it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maquiagem no Cinema (Makeup in Film): What gave you the strength to go on?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I managed to study the Royal method of graduation from Classical Ballet\u2026 Then one day we went to see a show in the Anhangaba\u00fa Valley<\/em>, with several companies (Black Swan, Ballet of the City of SP, Rep\u00fablica da Dan\u00e7a<\/em>) and at the end, The Ballet Stagium<\/em> presents a performance called \u201cSaudades Elis e Batucada<\/em>\u201c, a real samba\u2026 so beautiful! Choreographed with the classical ballet technique\u2026 That hit me! Ancestry! Oh, it was so intense, me and my sisters were astonished… Than we see a black woman, solo dancer, arriving. Her name is \u00c1urea Ferreira. We looked at each other and said: It is possible! I want to be in this Ballet! This happened on a weekend day… On Monday we were already there, at the Ballet Stagium<\/em>\u2026 My sisters and I were very well welcomed. We had a long journey of study and dedication in this school … Geralda Bezerra de Ara\u00fajo taught me all about Brazilian culture, discipline and dance in general. She gave me a new sight about dance, a humanized way to see it. At that time I was in two schools, we struggled to pay for it. But my mother was really happy, she was definitely fulfilled! Maquiagem no Cinema (Makeup in Film): Tell us about your experience in Musical Theater.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2004 I had a chance to be in an audition for Broadway\u00b4s Chicago version in Brazil, which was a very remarkable moment in my life!<\/p>\n\n\n\n One week of tests, several workshops, a completely new method of dance (Bob Fosse). Gary Christ, who was a disciple of Bob Fosse, was presented to us, he was in Broadway for a long time … I wasn\u00b4t approved, but I remember was amazed by me. I remember bringing a lot of personality to my performance. When we are in an audition we have to be with a good energy, we have to be prepared, so thay can see that it is possible to characterize this persona. And I remember it was very remarkable … I watched the movie, I was really prepared andsure I would be approved, but it didn\u00b4t happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then, on a beautiful day, after 2 months of the musical’s debut, they called me asked me for a new audition (a girl left), and I was finally approved! That was a milestone in my career! That’s when I entered the professional world of art. I don’t even know if it was a dream coming true… althoughI was wishing so bad to enter that musical. I did dream about being a dancer. But being an actress and a singer was such a distant thing for me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before that, I was in fashion business, it wasn\u00b4t easy. The historical process, structural racism, the limitation was huge and still is. Today we can see a transformation starting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, that’s how I started in entertainment: Through Ballet! The test was singing and I had never had a class\u2026 I performed and I was applauded! I thought, “My God, do I have this kind of talent?” I was a stunned. \u201cWas I applauded? Really?” I was kind of unaware of where I was stepping, of my talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, I realized I needed to improve myself. I started being approved in many auditions, one after another. My second musical was Sweet Charity, with Cl\u00e1udia Raia. I was one of the main characters (me and K\u00e1tia Barros). The need to improve, to get in tune with the industry, was even more clear for me. I used to teach ballet, didn’t make enough money, and had no sponsor and realized I had to make an effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After Sweet Charity, I had the opportunity to be in “Os Produtores<\/em>” (The Producers<\/em>), by Miguel Fallabella, and soon after that I was invited to be in a TV Globo soap opera, written by Miguel and directed by Mauro Mendon\u00e7a … The doors were opening for me. It wasn\u00b4t easy, it takes devotion – and money. But my mom\u00b4s energy was always on my mind (\u201cYou can do it, go, change your reality, embrace everything that comes from good, that will make you grow, and make you feel you belong\u201d). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Than I had my first opportunity in TV. It was a new thing for me. I took theater and film acting classes. I had no idea how to put myself in front of the camera. But I had talent. Miguel saw it! And that\u00b4s why he offered me this part. This is how I felt working on TV: \u201cNever make a mistake, you’re black\u201d. It always seemed like the last opportunity, one shot. I couldn’t face it as one more experience. No time can be wasted. Some were good experiences, but some other frustrated me. That\u00b4s how it works. Those were the experiences that made me want to improve myself. TV was an element in addition to dancing, singing, acting … Then it started to awaken other interests: There are several paths in art to follow!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/maquiagemnocinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/image3.jpeg\")
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She kept saying: “Transform your reality! I couldn\u00b4t change mine, but you will change yours!\u201d And our love for Ballet kept growing. Only one of my sisters continued. We joined many festivals and then we met a master called Isaura Gusman<\/em>. She came from the National Ballet of Cuba<\/em>. She taught at the Black Swan<\/em> and Ballet Stagium School<\/em>. It was amazing! A black female teacher (my first Jazz Ballet teacher was also black, but male). I was fortunate to have such strong references through dance. She brought a new meaning to my life, for being woman and black! She ended up leaving Ballet Stagium<\/em> and opened up the Company Cumbre Of Dance<\/em>, and I was there for 7 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/maquiagemnocinema.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/image1-2.jpeg\")