Today we’d like to introduce you to Elena Valecci.
Elena, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I was born with a dream: Dancing in Los Angeles. Ever since I was a child I watched and copied the movements of dancers I saw on television. But as a teenager, when my parents took me to see the movie “Honey“, I understood that dance was the love of my life. Unfortunately, in the small Italian city where I lived there were no dance schools. Therefore, I started self-taught, training every day with only one goal in my mind: Los Angeles.
After turning 20, my mother and father fell ill with cancer, so I decided to put dance aside for a while and study computer engineering instead. To have a safer future and to stay close to them. The years passed, but I always loved to dance, the fire in me had not gone away. After my degree and some dance jobs in the Italian dance scene, I decided to make big the jump and to reach my goal: LA. Finally, I could learn dance from the best dancers of the American scene and live my dream. The following years I gave my all to dance, studying in the various most famous studios in Los Angeles, like the Millennium dance complex, Debbie Reynolds and movement lifestyle.
I have never been so inspired in my life than in LA, this city and their artists offer a lot. In fact, I had the chance to take as many opportunities as possible by connecting with dancers and teachers, managing to get some gigs for artists and performing in different LA shows. The road has been long and winding, but I can finally say that I am in the place I have always dreamed of.
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?
In the beginning it was very hard, because I went to LA on my own. I didn’t have anyone to count on or support me. So it was difficult to find the right connections and to be able to reach certain jobs. Apart from this also to be stable emotionally, because “LA- people” forget you easily if you don’t have anything to offer them. But thanks to my mentors I was able to go in the right direction.
Furthermore, I noticed that it is a struggle to find and maintain genuine friends in LA. Everybody is focused on their own career and to reach their own goals. Personally I don’t like this part of LA, on my journey I have met many people who were just friendly to gain personal advantages. So I try to stay away from them, but you never know the real intentions of someone until the people reveal themselves. Another struggle was the cultural differences between Italy and USA, so I had to get used to this different way of living. Despite this, LA is the place to be if you want to be part of this industry and there is room for everyone if you have talent and personality.
Please tell us about your work.
I am currently working on several projects with my girlfriend, who is in charge of my photography and videography. My goal is to involve the dancers in more jobs, from music videos to theater and television, to give them more visibility in Italy. Because it’s not the same as in America. At the same time, I am choreographing tours for some Italian singers for the next year. But I will definitely stop by in Los Angeles to expand my possibilities.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I can say I was really lucky in my life because I had the opportunity to dance in LA with different artists and to meet people that saw myself for who I am. I’m really thankful for everybody that helped me in LA in the first time and I can say that if you are a genuine person then you are going to attract the same type of people. On the other side, I was not so lucky with my timing because if it wasn’t for the cancer of my parents, I could have started on an earlier age to work for my dreams.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valecci_xena/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elena.valecci
Image Credit:
Elena Schmidt: https://www.instagram.com/elena_mag_pixel/
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