Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Cebrian.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in Paris (France) and raised in oliva, a small city near Valencia (Spain). I started my dance training at the age of 8, from ballet to flamenco to anything that made my body move. At that time, we didn’t have a lot of information about international music or anything other than classic dance techniques in Spain, but I had the best teacher.
Her name was Maria Jose Arlandis, she was constantly traveling to Paris to bring back the newest music and dance styles to our academy. At the age of 16, I began traveling to Paris with her so I could take classes there. That’s when I discovered hip hop. I was in shock, those moves, the music, the energy… I fell in love! When I was 19, I moved back to Paris with the idea of becoming a professional dancer. In Spain there wasn’t a hip hop culture at that time and sadly, it was very difficult to work as a professional dancer, so I had to leave my country. At the beginning, it was tough. I had no money, I didn’t speak the language, I worked in factories, fast food restaurants, grocery stores… anything that would help me afford staying in the country and keep trying. Then one day, I got a phone call from a friend saying there was an open call audition for an artist. I didn’t really know who the artist was but I went and realized it had to be a big deal because dancers from all over the country were there. And I booked it! I went on a world tour for almost two years, doing what I love and traveling around the world… what a gift!
After that, I started booking more and more auditions and got to work on music videos, tv shows, tours with artists like Juanes, Matt Pokora, and many more. After seven years of amazing experiences, I decided to move to Los Angeles, I wanted to know what it was like to be in Hollywood. I wanted to live more experiences and grow my carrier as an artist. I was starting from zero again, moving to a new country, not knowing the language, etc but this time things looked a little bit more difficult because I needed a visa to stay in the USA. Lucky for me, I booked my first national tour the next day that I arrived to LA. I couldn’t believe it! I took it as a sign that I was where I was supposed to be. The tour was with an amazing dance company called Groovaloos. We got to tour the country and perform Off Broadway in New York for three months. Thanks to them, I got my first visa. It’s been 11 years since I moved to Los Angeles, I’ve worked as a dancer and choreographer for artists like Iluminate, Q-Tip, Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Black Eyed Peas and I’ve also performed on tv shows like The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Queen Latifah Show, Good Morning America and more. Nowadays, I’m transitioning into directing. I really love creating. I think you can do and express so much in film. So far, I have directed two short films and a couple of music videos and I’m loving it.
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?
Moving to a new country can feel like an exciting decision but can also be challenging. The language barrier doesn’t always allow you to be 100% yourself. You know, to flow and express your feelings. You find nice people along the way but also people with no patience or empathy to even try to understand what you are trying to say. I’ve experienced a lot of “if you don’t speak the language go back to your country” moments and it’s hurtful. It’s already hard enough to leave your home country and all your family behind. I really think that people should travel more, be curious about different cultures. You learn a lot from other people. Traveling is the best book you can read about life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional dancer, choreographer and director. I just love creating. I love creating concept videos where I can mix my different forms of artistic expression. I love to make people feel, to listen to people’s stories and create from there. I consider myself a warrior and it’s something that makes me proud. I work really hard everyday to get to where I want to be while staying true to myself. I think what sets me apart from others is simply that I am unique. Just like you are 🙂
How do you think about luck?
I am lucky to have been born into a family of hard-working people who have instilled great work ethics in me. My parents are humble individuals who have had to work really hard all their lives, so I got that from them. I believe if you work hard, you will get where you want to be.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marycebrian/?hl=es.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.cebrian/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MaryCebrian
Suggest a Story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Popular
-
What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
-
Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
-
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
-
What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
-
Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
-
What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
