Story & Lesson Highlights with Grisel Manzanares of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Grisel Manzanares. Check out our conversation below.

Good morning Grisel, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Who are you learning from right now?
For the past eight years, I’ve been learning from Irma Juana Olmedo, founder of DDC – Danza del Cotidiano and a researcher in corporeal and physical theater. Her work explores dance as a tool for emotional and energetic release, helping the body process and transform lived experiences.

Through regular dance sessions, I continue to learn how movement can unlock stored emotions and stories held in the body, allowing a deeper understanding of oneself over time. I’ve also trained with her in an intensive acting laboratory, where I developed foundational tools for character creation, starting from the body—physical presence, appearance, and embodiment.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an actress and dancer who deeply enjoys performing for film, television, and theater. Creating characters is one of the things I love most—it’s where imagination, emotion, and the body come together.

Dance has opened many creative doors for me, especially in the world of music videos, where movement becomes a powerful form of storytelling. Alongside my performance work, I currently lead an acting group for children, creating a playful and expressive space where they can explore creativity, confidence, and emotional expression through acting.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that being an adult was the ultimate goal. Now I realize that childhood itself is one of the most powerful and meaningful experiences we get to live, and that staying connected to that sense of play, curiosity, and imagination is essential.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
After months of deep, body-based work through dance with my teacher, Irma Juana. This wasn’t choreographed dance, but rather an ongoing practice of listening to the body and moving from a place of deep internal connection. Through long sessions of physical exploration, I eventually learned to accept my pain. Once I did, my relationship to it began to shift. Over time, what once felt overwhelming transformed into a source of strength and power.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies is that talent alone is enough to become an actor or a dancer. Talent is essential, but so is the strength of character needed to sustain artistic processes without breaking yourself in the process. Pushing your limits and giving your best is important, but not at the cost of losing yourself. Acting and dancing require a deep personal resilience—the ability to hold yourself together through uncertainty, vulnerability, and constant growth.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
People might see my approach to training as overly strict or even extreme. I can sound very firm, sometimes even uncompromising, when I talk about my ideas. What may be misunderstood is that beneath that discipline, there is also a lot of softness, care, and love. It’s about knowing when each quality is needed. My intention has never been rigidity for its own sake, but creating a structure that truly supports growth.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grisdecolores/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grismanzanaress
• Other: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSPmanYw8/

Image Credits
Alejandra Bucio and Marce D’Agostino