Today we’d like to introduce you to Nefeli Mak.
Hi Nefeli, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I come from a very small island in the Mediterranean: Cyprus. I’m 25 years old and I’m a professional dancer.
Growing up I tried many after-school activities, but the only one that stuck was dance. I’d spend five afternoons per week training and I loved it. I made the decision to study Law at the University of Reading in the UK, but never stopped dancing. So as soon as I graduated, I made one of the biggest and best decisions of my life, to move to LA to dance, using the money that would normally be spent on my Master’s. Thankfully my parents were very supportive and I’m grateful for that because I know not everyone is this lucky. This experience was totally worth it, I did the certificate program at Millennium Dance Complex and trained with the best in the industry whilst also attending classes at all the other amazing dance studios the city has to offer. Sadly, I had to be out of the country six months later because I was on a tourist visa.
Whilst trying to plan my next steps, a great opportunity arose in Athens, Greece so I moved there and started working straight away for almost a year. It felt great, I was finally making a living from my passion. That’s when the pandemic hit. After a few quarantines and a lot of back and forth between Cyprus and Greece, I eventually left my apartment there completely. Back in Cyprus, I started teaching a lot more than before and built a beautiful community around me whilst also working as a social media manager.
When things started looking up again, I moved to Paris, France for two months, attended auditions and classes and learned about the industry there. I realized it wasn’t the right fit for me. After that, I moved to London for two months, again attending many auditions and classes and came to the conclusion I could live there and keep trying but unfortunately, it had become a financial struggle by that time.
As I’m writing this, I’m finally on a contract which means I’ll be spending the next few months in Spain, performing on stage almost every night, the dream. Returning to LA has always been in my plans and I’m looking forward to it, but I won’t say anything else cause I don’t like to talk about stuff before it happens. Just wait and see!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Haha, definitely not. First of all, the most obvious one, I have to deal with a lot of rejection, which is really difficult mentally and psychologically, especially when you’re first starting out. Now, it doesn’t bother me as much, but again it depends. No one likes hearing they’re not wanted, or not good enough, or just don’t fit the job. In this industry, you will hear 100 “No” in order to hear that one “Yes”.
Which brings me to the next thing that’s been difficult to accept: the stereotypes that exist, meaning that dancers need to be tall and thin to book jobs. I understand that dancers need to look mesmerizing on stage, that is not the result you get from these specific looks exclusively. Thankfully this has slowly started changing.
Last but not least, moving to different countries and starting from zero every time is really difficult. Slowly getting into that country’s industry by going to classes, meeting dancers and choreographers, etc. But also the everyday struggles, long hours in public means of transportation, expenses, travel visas, setting up a bank account, even getting a local phone number. There are also a lot of small things you cannot even imagine unless you do it. Whether it’s worth it or not depends on you!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Basically, I’m mainly a performer, which means endless hours of training, auditions and eventually rehearsals. There’s a lot more to being a dancer than the glam you see on stage. When I worked in Greece, as I mentioned above, I had an all-round experience of the commercial industry, being a resident dancer at an established night show, dancing at TV shows like the X Factor, at live events like the Mad Video Music Awards, in several music videos and many more. This is when I realized that no matter how difficult, this is what I want to do.
I’d say I specialize in jazz funk, commercial and heels. However, I have a technical background of training in jazz, tap, contemporary and ballet, which I think is vital for every aspiring dancer.
I’m also known for being a dance teacher, which is something completely different. Every great dance teacher knows that the class is not about them but for the students. I respect and give my students my full attention in every class, empowering them to feel more confident and not hide their uniqueness whilst also learning to be disciplined.
Thinking about my career so far, I’m most proud of working with Tamta, a Georgian-Greek singer who I adore. I danced with her at X Factor live, at BOX Athens (the night show mentioned above), and in one of her most popular music videos “Senorita”. She is a humble, funny and hard-working individual.
This is not completely up to me to say, but I believe what sets me apart is my passion and work ethic. Even at my lowest point, I never gave up, and I’m not going to.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Going to the beach is connected with amazing memories, either with family, building sandcastles and eating fruit, or with dance mates, dancing and doing tricks on the sand. Another favourite of mine is my sister holding me and dancing to The Smurfs’ soundtracks for hours on repeat!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nefelimak.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsnefelimak/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nefelimak/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nefeli-mak/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NefeliMak
Image Credits
Headshot & Bodyshots by Dimos Galatakis.
