Meet Perlizbeth De Leon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Perlizbeth De Leon.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Perlizbeth. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started dancing when I attended to Appalachian State University in 2012. I joined Entropy Dance Crew and learned various styles of urban dance: a collegiate based style started in Southern California by various dance teams, taking inspiration and pulling movement from every dance style alive. I didn’t quite understand what I was learning but I knew it was fun. I could release and express. I could show myself and not have to adhere to a strict idea of dance.

From there, I started making choreography, teaching classes, and learning dance styles more in-depth. While in school, I got the chance to study African, Modern, Jazz, and two beginner ballet classes. I traveled as far as Chicago, DC, and ATL to learn other styles like breaking, popping, waacking, and house. I felt so alive during this time. It was like taking pilgrimages to absorb information, hone my craft, make connections.

I got married in 2014 and gave birth to our little girl, Isabella, in 2015. We graduated from college in 2017 and stayed in Boone for another year before moving to Raleigh, NC.

We started a dance workshop series, holding three weekly classes for six months. Through that series, we started a dance crew: Origin Urban Dance Crew (OUDC). Half a year after creating OUDC, I auditioned for an agency in Atlanta: MSA ATL or Mcdonald/Selznick Associates Agency with a new home in ATL, branching out from New York and Los Angeles.

I have since signed with the agency and we moved to Atlanta in July of 2019. Since then, it’s just been a lot of taking classes, meeting people, and trying out all kinds of new things!

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not.

Trigger Warning: Miscarriage, Loss and Grief

The most intense struggle I went through was the miscarriage of my first pregnancy, my first baby. When I miscarried, I had no idea what was happening to me. No one had ever told me about miscarriage. I learned of it by experiencing it firsthand. I had been anticipating my first pregnancy with eagerness, joyfulness. I was so excited to be a mommy. We had told all our friends and family. We were ready to welcome a new life into the world. 14 weeks in, our baby was born. Too soon to live, far enough to leave scars. My husband didn’t see our baby. I was so terrified myself. I looked briefly, shutting down and trying to process everything with my eyes closed. I look back and I wish I had kept my baby and gave them a proper burial. A proper goodbye. Instead, my baby was probably burned to ash in the hospital I was rushed to. I wish I had held them longer. Been with them longer. I wish I hadn’t been as scared as I was.

It took me years to heal. Moments of healing created with my husband and my daughter. My second pregnancy was harder. I held the fear that she could leave me in any second. I still hold it. She’s almost five and I’m still scared of all the things that could take her away from me. Take her away from the world.

The only advice I have is to not fear loss but to enjoy the time we have. Love when there’s space too. Hate, anger, fear… they all take up far too much of our precious time.

There are more stories to be told, more struggle behind closed doors. That’s the one that has carried the most weight for me and I’m so happy to have overcome it. Miscarriage needs to become a normal topic. If abortions can be talked about so often, miscarriages should be part of that conversation, too. Almost all women have had some instance of miscarriage whether it be themselves, a relative, or a friend.

It’s a normal thing and we can all support each other more if we know about it.

If you are out there healing from a miscarriage, you are not alone. You are part of a large community of mothers of angels. (:

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am, as an individual, my own business.

I am a dancer, choreographer, teacher, artist.

The thing I truly love to do most is to teach. I graduated with a degree in Art Education (K-12) and have been teaching art education since high school. It felt natural to switch over to teaching dance. I think this is what makes me unique as a dance teacher. I can educate in different disciplines and often cross-reference what I teach in dance class to art class and vice versa.

I’m most proud of the private lessons I have with students. It’s so rewarding to facilitate someone’s growth and watch them take control of their own progress.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Recently, I choreographed for a local artist named Sadie, on Instagram as @therealsadiess! She is an amazing human and artist. I met her in a dance class and we set up a private lesson. I realized she made music so I made some choreography to one of her songs, Dark Vader, to use for the lesson.

From there, I choreographed two more of her songs (Move and, a new track, kRaZy). I set the choreography on two female dancers, Serena (@serenajoyce_) and Mel (@melllbaez). They’ve done two performances and are going on for a third! It’s amazing to work with these strong women who are just as passionate about their craft as I am. Since Mel hurt her back, Devin (@_devinsimone_) will be performing in her place. If you follow them on Instagram, you can probably see where they’re performing next!

I would call this one of my proudest moments in my career because it’s my first time working completely behind the scenes and giving paid opportunities to other dancers. Sadie is an absolute star and I’m so grateful she gave me the opportunity in the first place. I want to keep creating like this and promoting growth in the community.

Pricing:

• Private Lessons ($50/hour)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.patreon.com/perlizbeth
• Phone: 9194269093
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/perlizbethh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perlizbethdeleon/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/puretsu

Image Credit:
Jess Lujing Knight, Torrey Seegars, Jesse Chen, Lynn Willis, Vybez Showcase Staff

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