Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabella Ward.
Isabella, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I am a Puerto Rican-American Actress, Singer, and Dancer that grew up in Ormond Beach, Florida. My first discipline and love was always dance; I trained as a classical ballet dancer most of my life. In my undergrad at Rollins College, I got terribly injured, tearing my ankle in three different spots. I could no longer move my body the way I once had, but knew my love for performing and storytelling was ever-present. I then switched my focus from dance to Musical Theatre and started training in the disciplines of acting and singing. After I graduated, I attended the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for my Masters in Musical Theatre and shortly after moved to New York City to work in the theatre. By that time, I was dancing again and booked my first job, The Broadway National Tour of Cinderella. I toured for almost two years as a dancer, which had been my dream for so many years, but something was missing. Somewhere between the injury and the exploration of other art forms, I had lost that passion for dance I had when I was young but was too afraid to admit it.
When I was on tour, I was introduced to Los Angeles for the first time and fell in love with the city. I started entertaining the idea of moving there to pursue acting, a dream that was slowly growing inside of me. When I moved back to New York City, I had started auditioning for Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story and told myself if I booked the job, it was my sign I would move to LA. The stars aligned, and I spent the summer of 2019 filming all over New York City. The movie was a perfect transition from the world of the Theatre to Film, a bittersweet ending to my life as a dancer, and a beautiful goodbye to New York.
I moved to LA during the pandemic, which was bold move I must admit. But once again, the stars aligned and it was time to go. When I got there, the industry of course was shut down. I used the time of solitude to really figure out what I wanted, to grieve the closing of a chapter of my life, and to dream up a new one.
When the world opened up again, West Side Story was finally released to the public, and I was able to help promote the success of the film. That momentum inspired me that anything is possible. I filmed my first TV Series “Parallel” in 2022 and was blessed to be a part of several short films that year, even trying my hand in producing.
In the summer of 2022, the relationship that glued me together during the pandemic quickly dissolved, and it left me completely heartbroken. I realized through my life as a dancer, which is a silent art form, and acting, which are words given to you on a page, and a highly co-dependent relationship… I was craving to hear my own voice.
Plot twist – I had been writing music since I was in high school but would never dare tell a soul. I took voice lessons for ten years but never made it known. I always felt weighed down by to the idea that you have to be one thing. “If you’re a dancer, you can’t be a singer too.” “If you’re an athlete, you can’t be an intellect” I let this idea stop me from doing things that I wanted or showing up in the way that I wanted for so many years.
With a broken heart, I felt this calling to write and write and write and sing until there was nothing left to say. This last year I committed to the journey of making music and sharing it with the world. To be honest with the SAG and Writers Strike it gave me all the time and energy to focus on it without my other endeavors getting in the way.
I released my first single, “Lesson To Me” in November, which dissects the process of grief and closure and how you don’t really need it to move forward.
I’ve never felt more free and aligned with my purpose until now, and I can’t wait to continue sharing my music!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
When we think of life obstacles, we usually point out external factors, whether that’s an injury, the city you’re living in or not booking the job you wanted. But if I’m being honest my biggest obstacle has been myself and the limiting beliefs I placed in my head. It’s taken me several years to honor that what I have to offer has value and that the way I see the world should be shared. Your opinion of yourself is the only one that matters.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Up until this point, I’ve been known for my career as a dancer and actress. While those facets of my life are so integral into who I am, I have to say I am so proud of diving deep into my journey as a songwriter and musician. I released my first single this past November, entitled “Lesson To Me,” which is the first of my music to come in 2024. To accompany my single, I released a 15-part video series of all the lessons I had learned through my year of healing. Think of it as 8-second diary entries.
Knowing my budget was minimal, I took on creative directing and editing all the components of the video series. Which was so thrilling for me to marry my visual storytelling and my musical storytelling together, So much of my writing is influenced by my life in the theatre and understanding how movement and sound are integral to one another.
How do you think about luck?
If luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, then it’s one of the most integral parts of my success. What happens to me, or rather for me, is simply out of my control. I’ve always been a disciplined, passionate, and focused human by nature. When I want something, I go for it full steam ahead. So, If something I desire doesn’t work out, I’ve always viewed it as part of my luck as well. What’s meant for me will be there, and what’s not means something greater is on the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: isabellaward.com
- Instagram: IsabellaWard
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/syfTPCqEj4M?si=8Hv0v-7GghRdV_S3
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/track/60qxtDRvdehVHRvLts5oQA?si=7ea2fedb4f49464e
Image Credits
John Metcalf James Jin Brad Rundblade
