Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara Marquez.
Hi Barbara, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Valencia, Venezuela. I started to take Flamenco Classes at “Academia Las Lizarraga” when I was 10 years old and I fall in love ever since. When I turn 18 years old, I started teaching flamenco classes (for kids 3 years old and grownups) a year later I became part of the “Compañía Las Lizarraga” dance Company with which we were part of different competitions and events.
At 21 years old, I became the coordinator of “Academia Las Lizarraga” where part of my job was to help with the production of the events and organization and supervise all the different dance groups that the academy had at the time. In 2018, I came to the US where ever since I have performed in different events and after taking a break from teaching, I have decided to do it again here in Salt Lake City with beginners Flamenco Class.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been smooth, I think as a dancer career is never easy, we always try to look for perfection and we expect so much of ourselves pushing our bodies to the limit.
I’m my personal life moved to a different country and starting a new life away from my family hasn’t been easy but I have faith that it’s going to be better and better every day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a flamenco dancer, even though I have learned different dance styles flamenco is the one that I’m most passionate about, it doesn’t matter what dance style you do, you always have your signature style, that’s the beauty of an artist or a dancer anything that you do you can make it your own.
I could say that I’m known for loving what I do, for being passionate and energetic about it, I love to make people understand what I’m feeling when I’m performing. I’m proud of all the hard work that I’ve been putting in over the years to always be better, I’m very proud of what I have learned and the respect that I have for every person that had help me to be the dancer that I am today.
What sets me apart from others is a really hard question because as a dancer, as an artist we all have differences that make us unique that makes us shine in our way, so we all are different, we all are apart from each other even though we dance the same style or even if we learn the same steps we are always going to transmit what we feel differently, so I could say that what sets me apart from other is myself, being and dance the way that I do makes me different from the rest.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
I have always worked hard for what I love, so I would like to say that luck hasn’t played a role in my life.
I would say that is the reward of the work that I have done, the reward of listening to all the people that have to give me advice and that I have learned to follow, the love that my family has given me through the years, that’s my luck.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Barbieflamenco
