Rising Stars: Meet Marissa Neola

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marissa Neola.

Hi Marissa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story. 
I started dancing at the age of 5. From then on, I knew I wanted to pursue a professional career in dance. I was born in California but moved for majority of my young life until I finally settled in Georgia at the age of 10. I immediately started on Carla’s Dance Factory’s competition team and continued training with them until I was 18. I was blessed to have an education training in all styles from pointe to afro beats. At age 15, I started to take advantage of more industry opportunities in Atlanta, including the “Project Future Dancer” program directed by Cherrise Wakeham, Rachel Truitt’s Dance Company “Gotta Dance Contemporary,” and “AB Project” under Anthony Burrell. I have had the wonderful opportunity to work under many names in the industry, including Debbie Allen, Fatima Robinson, Aakomon Jones, Chris Grant, Jamaica Craft, and more. I’ve made TV appearances on services such as Netflix, BET, CW, Nickelodeon, etc. I have been able to work with multiple artists, including Kanye West, Shakira, Jason Derulo, Tyler Hubbard, Chesca, etc. Most recently, I had the amazing opportunity to perform alongside Shakira on The Tonight Show and TSX Live in NYC. Above all these incredible experiences, my main goal is to inspire upcoming dancers to be confident and open-minded and to strive for their dreams! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Pursuing a career in entertainment is never easy. It’s a job that requires you to be on call 24/7. Most things are last minute and sometimes not even in the same state as you. It’s very common to be asked to be across the country in 24 hours, sometimes in the same day. You basically just have to throw stuff in a suitcase and get on the first flight out. At first, this was very stressful for me, but now I’m pretty used to it. I know how to quickly pack the essentials- or maybe I should invest in a “go-bag”? Most people outside the industry can’t understand why we do this, but for me personally, it’s because of my passion for dance. Unfortunately, it does cause you to miss other commitments or cancel on people last minute, you just hope that your loved ones will give you grace. 

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a professional dancer located in LA, Atlanta, New York, and Miami. I have worked my butt off to be a true local in all four locations. Being free to roam where I please while still performing is something I’m most proud of. It took a long time to be able to have the freedom to be in all places at once and it has really propelled me forward in my career. I specialize in commercial styles such as hip-hop, contemporary, and jazz. However, I personally feel like I’m known for my versatility. I do contortion as well as ballet and tap, I also play the piano. I pride myself on being a chameleon and being moldable. I want to be able to fit multiple standards. And the more versatile you are, the more opportunities you are suited for. I think, naturally, it’s a skill that sets me apart from others because it requires you to be open-minded. You have to be willing to try new things without opinions or complaints. I love when I get to take on a new character for a job, those kinds of performances are the most fun. 

On the more creative side, I have a deep passion for choreographing. It’s like a guilty pleasure without the guilt. Creating and choreographing allows you to find out more about yourself as well. It forces you to look inward. You may discover things about yourself you didn’t know or find new ways you can move your body. I love to create moving pictures for an audience, especially with props and costuming. It’s like putting together a story with no words. And the most satisfying part is to look at the piece in its entirety after you have spent HOURS creating it. It makes it all work it when everything comes together. 

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
First thing is to find a direction and follow it. It is so easy to get lost nowadays. There is so much opportunity out there, and navigating it can be hard. It’s a lesson I’m still learning for myself. Another thing is to just relax and let things flow. I wish I could go back in time and tell younger Rissa to just relax and enjoy the ride. I think, naturally, we all put pressure on ourselves, but the anxiety that this industry can cause you is monumental. And being stressed out actually prevents you from growing because you’re not focused on the right things. 

Last thing is to congratulate and support others. Our industry is very competitive, and it can take a toll on you mentally. Especially when we see our peers getting opportunities, we feel we should have gotten them. And sometimes, we see people doing things that we don’t even have an interest in, but seeing others win can be hard when you’re struggling. So, it’s better to be supportive and keep it pushing. Encourage others the way you would want to be encouraged, give people their flowers, and keep your mind focused on your path. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marissaneola.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marissaneola/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marissa.neola.3
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCszDSUv26m36xBNHOEczyrA
• Other: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fmarissaneola&e=AT1YYQ-mUoTmLA16wqbYEVqyUEa1sKl3UQ-WGfqJFzwN72kUGbvPVJeNBXAaNP5P024cGtG3SGMjfOF1RTKqJMZDq7g1T6YuRj2sqA9IeLBClczQm7IzwQ

Image Credits
Bubba Carr
Darius Jackson