Meet Teresa Rose Declines of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Teresa Rose Declines.

Hi Teresa Rose, 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?
Whether it was through my parents playing their favorite Sunday cleaning jams or making silly dances with my siblings, there was always a vibrant sense of passion and joy underlying those experiences that integrated music, movement, & connecting to others into my life. Movement came naturally to me, leading me to pursue formal dance training at a young age. I explored a wide range of styles, from Contemporary, Jazz, and Ballet to Hip-Hop/ Street styles like Locking and Breaking, as well as Filipino cultural dances.

This curiosity and drive for dance only deepened as I pursued and graduated with my B.F.A in Dance from California State University, Long Beach. My time in academia transformed my understanding of dance as a professional career and offered a more profound insight into my identity both as a mover and as a person (which to me, is just as important—if not, more so!).

Through working in process-based modern dance pieces, I discovered how my unique experiences and background could shape my movement. Even within the structured environment of concert dance and academia, I found traces of that younger version of myself who simply grooved to the music she loved without any concerns or limitations.

After graduation, I continued to forge my own path in dance, blending my love for various styles and pushing past my comfort zones to try new ones. I’ve been fortunate to perform with the LUME Dance Collective directed by MaryAnn Chavez and Monika Felice-Smith and the D.A.M Project by Halima Dodo, as well as be a company member for LUME APEX’s inaugural season. As I continue to refine my physical dance training, I am excited about the opportunity to perform at award shows, festivals, and even tour with artists. Simultaneously, I have been channeling my creativity into choreographic works for showcases such as Stomping Ground LA’s AAPI Voices and Sorah Yang’s Choreography Mentorship Program. Now a part of the Movement Lifestyle famLy, I am grateful for the opportunity to further explore my own personal movement, while fostering a deeper sense of community and connection.

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?
It definitely hasn’t been the smoothest road and honestly, continues to ebb and flow with the different seasons of my life. One of the biggest struggles for me personally was during the global lockdown in 2020. This drastic change came at the midway point of my college career when I was feeling the momentum and drive towards my professional dance career start to take off.

Navigating this time of Zoom dance and academic classes felt like a constant battle in my mind betwen trying to keep my love for dance alive and the frustration of how it has shifted. And with the lack of in-person experiences and connection to others, I found myself lost in the cycle of comparison, social media doom-scrolling, and grieving the dance life I wanted. However, this time forced me to take a step back from my previous auto-pilot routine, take rest and not spread myself thin, and reflect on how I can redefine my career and the paths that I can take to still achieve my dream.

I continue to find new challenges and obstacles in my journey still to this day, but have learned to embrace the unexpected changes and unknown with more grace and an open heart/mind. I am finding that no journey is without opposition and challenges (especially when they are the biggest and grandest dreams), but that is where the most beauty and discovery lies!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a movement artist and dance performer inspired by people and their lived experiences in the world around them. I immerse myself into pieces that prioritizes collaborations to create authentic movement, exploring the unique qualities varying from person to person. Especially growing up in a big family with an eclectic music taste, I find joy in shifting between different dance & music genres, highlighting the connectedness between music and dance. I find that there is great power in the subtleties of movement, working as reminders that we are present, breathing, and human. I aim to be a vessel for connection between the audience and artists, welcoming all to join the space and experience something together.

One piece I am proud of was my most recent work titled “open arms”, presented at the Back to One showcase created by Brittney Lee & Hanako Ohashi. “open arms” explored the celebration of living and ultimately, the most gratitude for yourself in everyday moments and phases of life. This idea stemmed from the changes happening within my own life: relationships ending, navigating my dance career, and shifting between jobs. I used this newfound appreciation of the versions that built me to who I am today to create this work. Despite the challenges of deadlines, rehearsal schedules, and the quick shifting daylight during the shoot day itself, it was a beautiful collaborative process with my cast of dancers and crew members. Piecing together snapshots of my casts’ lives and memories alongside my own choreography and a live performance, this project holds a dear space in my heart and reminds me that I am more than capable of bringing a vision to life.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Yes, of course! Community has always played a HUGE role in my life and I wouldn’t be who I am without the people who not only support me, but also inspire me to keep striving for more. In terms of mentors, I have been blessed to take part in various women-led spaces in the dance industry from Selene Haro, Sorah Yang, Tia Rivera, MaryAnn Chavez, and Monika Felice-Smith.

During the global lockdown in 2020, I learned from Selene Haro through the Ethos Virtual Intensive. During a time where connection was distant and my passion for dance was fading, Selene created an open space for self-compassion and empowerment that kept my love for dance alive. As we shifted back towards in-person dancing over the next few years, I had many opportunities to learn from Sorah Yang in her Summer Training Programs and Choreography Mentorship Program. A multifaceted creative and entrepreneur, Sorah showed me how to deepen my authentic artistry while honoring the humanness behind myself as a dancer. Every time I get the chance to be in spaces with Sorah, I continue to challenge new aspects of myself, whether it be strengthening my stamina and power in dance or breaking through creative blocks and mindset shifts.

Continuing to explore the commercial dance industry, I found community in the LUME Dance Collective & LUME APEX founded by MaryAnn Chavez and Monika Felice-Smith. These two powerhouse women continue to make it happen for their own careers, while creating opportunities for aspiring creatives and dancers through their various mentorship programs. I was exposed to fast paced on-set training, professional performance gigs, teaching opportunities, and as a result, was empowered to embrace my own personal style.

One of the biggest breakthroughs I had in my dance journey was with Tia Rivera in her BTB Summer Intensive and BTB Camp. Tia’s mentorship really shined a light on how I was navigating my dance career (and life as a whole!) and pushed me to face my subconscious fears and doubts head on. With Tia’s mentorship, I feel more equipped to take on this industry. I am constantly reminding myself to dream bigger faster and keep rewriting the narratives that I have told myself in the past.

Special shoutout to my Movement Lifestyle famLy for being my community and home in this new phase of my dance career. Everyone– from the staff, to my fellow workstudies, to the many amazing teachers–has inspired me in not only their dedication to their craft, but how they create and foster genuine connections in community. I have been so grateful for the many opportunities mL provides: learning different roles at the studio, being able to teach my own workshop, and expanding my dance knowledge across styles.

Last but certainly not least, I owe the greatest appreciation to my family. To my parents and siblings, for seeing me before I fully saw myself and for their unconditional support throughout my dance journey ever since I was a little girl on stage for dance recitals. When my doubts run high, they are always the first people to remind me of the hard work I’ve done to get to where I am and they continue to fuel the joy that carries me through the hardest moments.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teresadeclines/
• Other: Email: declines.teresa@gmail.com

Image Credits
Personal Photo Credits: Allie Costello | Costello Captures, Action Shot Credits: Catherine Fisher | Likewise Lens , Workstudy Workshop Flyer: Movement Lifestyle