Today we’d like to introduce you to Silvia Perrotta.
Silvia, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. I first started by dancing; I was three years old when my mom took me to my first ballet class in Academia Ballet Concierto Dominicano, and then a little later, I started some theater classes for a few years. I have always wanted to be a TV and film actress, but I didn’t got involved in that world till later in my life. In the meantime, I kept training in dance which I love and will always do, but every time I got off a stage when every dance presentation was over, I was so inspired and moved by the audience that I used to always tell my parents that I am sure I will be moving to New York when I graduate high school and I will study acting for film and television because I thought and still think is fascinating how I can make people (the audience) feel so many different emotions by just doing what I love, performing.
When I was close to graduating high school, I started working on applications for so many amazing schools and finally decided to come to the New York Film Academy here in New York City. I just finished one year at this astonishing school and I am so excited to be starting my second year soon. When I first got to New York, I couldn’t believe I was here and to be honest, till this day, I still can’t believe I am living in the city of my dreams and studying what I love the most.
It was not easy moving here; the process of getting all of those papers of application and student visa and all of that stuff can be very tricky and also moving to another country can be very tough for some people, not only the fact that you were no longer living with your parents and surrounded by your friends from back home but to be on your own and making a whole new life. I am extremely grateful that I knew how to handle the fact of living alone and making new friends. I just took it one day at a time. So to anyone out there that is scared to move to a new country or city and pursue your dreams, it’s going to be hard sometimes but don’t lose hope because everything will get better and that feeling of actually be living your dream is incomparable.
Has it been a smooth road?
It was pretty smooth the first few months but of course, I have had some struggles. One of them was getting an apartment. As many people may know, New York is very overpriced and landlords are very strict about having credit and income here in the U.S. Since I am an international student, I can’t work at the moment, so that was a problem. Thank God I found an apartment with a friend but it was not easy at all. I cried many nights thinking about what I was going to do with this situation. So to anyone who is moving to pursue their dreams and is international like me, just know that there’s a space for you and you will find an apartment, you are not alone in this. You can also contact me through my social media for help in this process because I know every process is completely different.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a trained actor and dancer. I started training in classical ballet when I was only three years of age and then incorporated other genres of dance into my ‘toolbox’. I now dance contemporary dance, jazz dance, hip-hop, street jazz, vogue, a little bit of tap and so many other things I love. My dance became my work back In the Dominican Republic; I did many ‘gigs’ and big shows, which I am very proud of and enjoyed a lot.
My real acting started when I got to New York City, back home in DR I danced in a few musical theater shows, I took musical theater workshops at Theamus and acted a little but singing was not my thing and back there I never did film or TV because I had always wanted to save that for when I came here.
Now I just finished my first year of the two-year conservatory of Acting for Film and TV in the New York Film Academy. I have learned and grown so much as an actor and as a person, I can’t even put into words. I believe what sets me apart from others and what I am most known for is my distinctive personality; I am very confident, outgoing and I don’t consider myself funny but my friends do, especially because I have a deep voice. Nonetheless, that doesn’t distract me from being a very focused and dedicated person, as I said before this is my passion and what I will be doing for the rest of my life.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I think the most important thing is to have patience and not to lose yourself and your essence in the process. It is very hard being surrounded by so many talented people, especially in an artistic environment, but always remember that what sets you apart from others is just being who you really are because there’s absolutely no one like you out there.
Contact Info:
- Email: silviaperrotta@icloud.com
- Instagram: @silviavalenzuela
- Facebook: Silvia Perrotta
- Twitter: @SilviaPerrotta4
Image Credit:
Parish Mandhan
SJ Objío
Shantal Pellerano
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