Life & Work with Noelle Franco of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Noelle Franco.

Hi Noelle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
started in san diego at 8 years old, taking hip hop classes at Studio 429, home of Choreo Cookies (very well known professional community dance team). I later became a member of Choreo Cookies and started to teach my own choreography in classes. After high school, my first dance job was with the off-broadway show Beyond Babel. Decided after Covid to hone my craft as well as I could, and felt moving to Los Angeles was my next step. Since being here, the journey has been tough but extremely fulfilling. Was able to be in a few music videos (choreographing one), perform on stage, and explore movement direction. Looking forward and towards more jobs and experiences.

When I’m not spending my time dancing, I work along side my mother in our family business. Orduñoart. My grandfather, Robert Orduño, was an amazing fine artist who took inspiration from his Native American (Tongva) background. We hope to push our small business forward in sharing his breath -taking artwork. Being Mexican American, I’ve been working to connect more with my roots, and honoring our past through my grandfathers artwork, has been extremely rewarding. It’s important we don’t forget the people who came before us.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Biggest struggle is negative self talk and constant comparing to others. It’s easy to let your insecurities take lead. You have to be mentally strong to be in a career where you have to constantly prove yourself. Dance is athletic and a career but it is also an art form. It’s extremely personal and tied very closely to your soul and who you are as a person. Which is what makes it so beautiful but can also make this “job” more complicated. Any artist knows how deeply we all are our own harshest critics. Biggest challenge is the ones we create in our minds and for ourselves.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a professional dancer and choreographer. My foundation is in hip hop. I teach choreo that is uniquely me with a strong emphasis on hip hop with popping and house influences. I’m proud of how I conduct a classroom environment. Dance is freedom and community, its important to foster that in class.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Persistence. There are times when quitting is the easiest and safest option, being strong enough to know I’m where I need to be and to keep it pushin

Pricing:

• Privates lessons (always dependent of the students budget)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://noellefranco.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noella.franco/
• Other: https://ordunoart.com/

Image Credits
Jaime Lopez (jaime.e.lopezjr), Insageproduction, Axel Lopez (aaxellopez)