OCEAN OF POSSIBILITIES: DANCING IN THE USA WHEN YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN

What do you do when your dream is to dance in the USA but you live half way around the world? How do you achieve this seemingly unattainable goal? Anything and everything is possible if you follow your passions and keep focused… Elisabetta Spuria flew across oceans to achieve her dreams. Find out how she did it in her words...

I was born in Messina, Italy, a tiny town at the southern tip of Italy. I started dancing in Messina when I was 6 years old. After a couple of classes I knew that dance was going to be my life.

After finishing high school, I started auditioning and booking dance work, as well as teaching whenever I was not in a show performing. I traveled throughout Italy holding workshops and master classes. I knew at that age that I was gaining valuable experience that I could use all over the world. I also discovered my true passion for teaching and love for helping others become better dancers and performers. After six years of teaching, choreographing and performing, I was beginning to outgrow Italy. It was not enough for me anymore. I wanted to see more, experience more, and challenge myself to make my dream become a reality… I wanted to make it in "The Big Apple".

I hopped on a plane and took the cross Atlantic flight and landed at JFK in New York City! I was heading towards my future. I moved to New York City not speaking a word of English... I remember sitting in the hallway after dance class at Broadway Dance Center (NYC), not really understanding anything going on around me, but knowing that this is where I was meant to be... this is where I would be able to share the "passion of dance" that was so engraved in my heart and spirit...

Nine years later I have been blessed and have established myself as a professional who can perform and teach. I began assisting choreographers on many jobs. Top US choreographers trusted me with their shows. I have had the privilege to work with some of the best choreographers and working professionals in the dance industry. It has not only opened my eyes but has inspired me in so many ways. Being able to perform in all different types of shows and venues such as “Carmen” at the Houston Grand Opera, “Aida” and “Candide” at Opera Pacific and Footloose the musical to mention a few, has allowed me to realize that anything is possible if you are passionate about what you are doing. I have also had the opportunity to work with major recording artists as an associate Director/Choreographer like Mariah Carey for her "Charmbracelet" World Tour and Michael Bolton on his "Only a Woman Like You" World Tour. Most recently, I have had the amazing opportunity to “fly solo” and choreograph my first production of the musical “Chicago” for the Michael D. Palm Theater in Colorado. It was a fulfilling moment in my career to realize that I am now at a new level of my dance and choreographer career that most dancers spend years trying to attain, and for that I am forever grateful.

We at StageDoorAccess.com identified Elisabetta as an outstanding model for the International dancer. She came to the USA with a goal and achieved everything she attempted plus more. She speaks highly of having a “passion” to reach your goals… She not only has the passion, but the extreme talent to back it up as well.