Today we’d like to introduce you to Bianca Scaglione.
Bianca, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a dancer, singer, and actress born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I’m pretty sure I started dancing before I could even walk. My Dad has always said that when I was a kid, I would constantly twirl around the house; jumping, spinning and dancing all around! After my parents saw my infatuation with movement, they decided it was a good idea to put me in dance classes when I was two years old, and they definitely made the right decision! Upon entering the studio and seeing the ballet barre, I knew that was where I was meant to be! I have now been dancing for 20 years and I made the decision to professionally pursue the arts when I was seventeen. Throughout my life, I’ve trained in various styles such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, modern, tap, and contemporary.
Growing up in Los Angeles really shows you how much opportunity is at your feet, and I have never taken that for granted. I was fortunate to be able to study at a variety of different studios throughout my city and receive training from some of the industry’s most respected professionals. Something that really continued to fuel my passion for dance was being able to attend a performing arts middle school and high school, while still training at the studio as well. I was never the girl who enjoyed P.E., so being able to dance instead of going to gym class was my favorite part of school. It provided me with more time to do what I loved! Singing has always been a huge passion of mine as well, which was welcomed and encouraged as I grew up in a musical household, with my Dad being a musician. I was part of the choir and musical theatre program at my middle school, and I always loved writing my own songs and coming up with original material. In high school, my friend and I co-wrote a song called “It’s A Beautiful Day”, which was featured in the Hallmark movie The Sweeter Side of Life.
When it comes to dance, I have always loved choreographing. I remember one of my favorite things to do as a kid was making up routines with my friends during playdates, putting on talent shows for our parents, and teaching my younger cousins dances I choreographed at our family’s yearly Christmas party. During my teenage years, I went to dance 5-6 days a week where I would rehearse and practice for hours upon hours, consistently giving all of my effort and putting in hard work. I started exploring different possibilities and began teaching and assisting at a few different studios when I was 15. I began to fall even more in love with it. To this day, teaching is something that brings me the most joy, even more than performing sometimes. My entire life, I have always taken dance seriously. For myself, it was never just an extra-curricular or fun activity to do with my friends that I’d eventually outgrow, it was my deepest passion. I knew I had a greater purpose as an artist, and I always intended to work hard to reach my goals and prepare myself for the future I wanted and deserved. When I graduated high school, I committed four years to attend college and receive my BFA degree, majoring in Dance Theatre. Higher education was something that was really important to me, especially as an artist. I’m so glad I chose to earn my degree at such a young age, and I encourage all artists who have thought about that to do the same.
While in college, I got the opportunity to study at American Ballet Theatre during the summertime and work with the incredible Harriet Clark, Rosanna Seravalli, and Ethan Brown. That was always a goal of mine and I made it happen with hard work. Being able to study at ABT was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and it taught me even more about myself as a dancer and what I truly want to do with my career. Since graduating college a year ago, I have gotten some wonderful opportunities such as being the voice-over artist for the popular restaurant Mendocino Farms and getting to work on FX’s season 4 of Better Things. I have been persistent with continuing my training, auditioning, and teaching at various studios across Los Angeles.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I was seven years old, my mother was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a terminal bone cancer. My Mom, Dad, younger brother and I moved to upstate New York to be closer to our relatives and ensure that my mom was receiving the best medical care possible. Moving across the country at a young age introduced a lot of change in my life. I had to make new friends, say goodbye to my old ones, attend a new school, live in a city very different from LA, all while coping with the struggle of my mom battling cancer. This put a hold on dance lessons for a while and life as I knew it was, in a way, at a standstill. Despite the extremely difficult times, my family was going through, I knew I had the best mom and dad ever, paired with the most incredible support system of my relatives. I was well taken care of and always felt showered with love. Through the years, I saw my mom undergo a lot of change with chemotherapy and losing her hair, being very sick, getting better, and then declining again. But during all of it, she was a true warrior. Through her pain, she would still make me the best pasta ever, and she was always up for a game of pac-man.
When I was nine, my mother passed away after a long fight with cancer. The day she was gone really changed my life forever. My world was broken, my heart was shattered, and I knew things would never be the same again. It might sound dramatic, but it’s true. My mom was my best friend, she was always supportive of my love for dance, and she always encouraged me. When she died, I had to grow up a lot faster than a lot of other kids my age and learn how to deal with life without a Mom. However, due to those circumstances, I am a lot wiser than my years and for that, I am thankful. My Dad is the best father in the entire world and he has done everything for my brother and I. He raised me and my brother all by himself since my mom passed, and he did it with a smile on his face the entire time. He is the one who comforted us when we cried, he’s the one who drove me to and from dance with joy all of those years… because he believed in me and my abilities. He is a superhero and deserves everything good, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him. My childhood was one of the most memorable, best times of my life, yet also the most difficult time of my life. I have amazing memories, and also sad memories which I’ll never forget, but I consider everything a blessing. I thank God for bringing my family and I through and out of those tragic times. My experiences have shaped me into who I am today, and I wouldn’t be the same without them.
Tell us about your business/company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I have always considered myself to be a technically trained dancer, specializing in ballet, which I am proud of and thankful for. However, I don’t let my background in ballet define who I am. Many times in my life, growing up, and to this day, I have been told that I am “just a ballet dancer” or that I’m “too skinny” to be seen as something else (whatever that means). I have had teachers put me in a box and label me as strictly a “ballet dancer” or tell me that I will “never do more than ballet”. But I have never allowed those comments to bring me down. Why does my classical technique make me eligible for only one style of dance? Does it decrease my value in other styles that I’ve trained just as long in that I do just as well? No, I don’t believe that’s how it works. I am tired of the labels in the dance world. I do not let others define me, who I am as a dancer or my voice as an artist. I can be whatever I want to be, and I am. The stereotypes need to be released, and we as dancers cannot and should not allow other people to diminish us or tell us we aren’t able to be versatile. I want to make that known for any and every dancer who has ever been put in a box, who has been labeled as just “one style” of dance, or perhaps told they weren’t good enough. Rise above, challenge yourself, and show the world what you can really do! I believe that is something that sets me apart from others. I hold power with my individual voice, I know my own artistry, and I don’t let others define said artistry. I have individuality, I am creative, I am versatile, and I am not afraid to think outside of the box or go against the norm. Oh, and I do that with my technique right by my side.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, I was a natural born leader. I loved being in charge and offering direction. I loved creating and making art whether that meant drawing and coloring pictures, choreographing, writing a song, or acting out a scene from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs while it played on my TV. I was always creating art, imitating art, and breathing in art. I am very thankful to have parents that supported my dreams and interests as a child. I know many people who don’t have parents who are supportive of the arts, so I am beyond grateful that mine helped, encouraged, and guided me to what I loved. Always reach for what you want, keep working hard for your goals, and make sure you believe in yourself because that is important! You can do whatever you set your mind to, and make sure to never let anyone tell you otherwise.
Contact Info:
- Website: biancascaglione.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: biancascaglione
- Facebook: Bianca Scaglione
Image Credit:
Kristi Moore Griffith, IG: @kristigriffphotos
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