Meet Natalia | Adult Dancer & Human Resources Employee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalia, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
As a dancer who works during the day and then spends her free time at the studio in class, my balance that I use to have has changed. I think about the balance the same way I did when I was school. I knew what had to get done in order to go train so I had to use my time wisely. It’s the same way now with my job. If I have to start working earlier in order to complete a dance commitment, I will do that. Even if it means having to work an hour or two earlier than my regular hours.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There aren’t that many dancers out there in the world that continue their training after they graduate. There’s a lot of this either you go study this in college or you stop completely, and I think I stand out for the very reason that I chose none of those paths. I went to college for something completely non-dance related but still continue to train inside a studio after I work. I feel that it’s a path that former dancers don’t know about or they just don’t have the support necessary. Being a dancer for practically my whole life, there were slips up along the way. I had to make decisions as simple as “is this studio going to take me far in terms of my training?” I’ve learned to take that into my professional work life as to know whether a company will allow you to grow or not. As an adult dancer and creative I want whoever finds this or reads it to know that you can have both but it requires effort, sacrifice, patience but it’ll be so worth it when you get to step on a stage, knowing you put your worth in it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would take them to a little iHop or Waffle House for breakfast( I know weird). Mostly on the first day they’re in town. I would then spend time taking them along with me to the studio if it’s a day I have class or I would take them to a dance show if it’s on a weekend. We would end the night at Steak N Shake because it’s not the end of a dance show until you have Steak N Shake after.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate first and foremost to my parents and my younger singling for always supporting my dancer life. From driving me to the studio when I was a kid to coming to the studio for every parent week and going to every single yearly showcase. As well as my instructors for teaching me everything I know about dance and for instilling in all of us that no matter where you go in life, the lessons you learn in the studio will take you farther than just the studio walls.

Instagram: https://instagram.com/nataliaxcharmine?igshid=MmIzYWVlNDQ5Yg==

Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nataliadanceofficial?_t=8dQ0mDry3kg&_r=1

Image Credits
All of these were taken my dad Paulo Ribeiro.