As a vigorous 6-year-old, Alejandro Vargas had an considerable vitality his mother and father hoped to channel into sports activities. After biking by way of all the standard choices, nothing appeared to stay. Then, to attach Vargas and his sister with their Colombian heritage, his mother and father enrolled them in a salsa class at an area studio in New Jersey. That’s when every thing modified and Vargas discovered his ardour.
As Vargas obtained older, he grew extra severe about dance and commenced attending dance conventions together with his studio, Dancin’ within the Highlight. The proprietor, Liz LeBar, cultivated his versatility, encouraging him to coach in each model. “She taught me to be a hireable dancer,” Vargas says, “like an adaptable chameleon.”
Vargas carried this lesson with him from highschool into faculty, the place he attended Juilliard. “I’ve at all times been all in favour of touching completely different avenues in my profession, whether or not it’s Broadway, live performance work, industrial work, TV, or movie,” Vargas says. Despite the fact that Juilliard focuses on live performance dance, Vargas remained open, which paid off in a giant means. In his senior 12 months, he was supplied a job in Justin Peck’s dance musical Illinoise.
Vargas made his Broadway debut earlier than graduating together with his BFA from Juilliard. Just a few months later, he moved to Lyon, France, the place he now dances with the acclaimed modern firm Opéra Nationwide de Lyon.
We talked with Vargas to speak extra about his senior 12 months and the teachings he discovered all through.
On Juilliard: “Juilliard taught me about what I don’t like or am not essentially drawn to. We have been, fortunately, given many alternatives to work with completely different choreographers, and never all of the processes have been my favourite. However I feel understanding what you don’t like in any medium is simply as informative as understanding what you do like, as a result of it helps you proceed with future decision-making in your profession. Juilliard additionally taught me find out how to advocate for myself. You’re held accountable, and you will need to be taught to be a very good communicator, which is a crucial life talent.”
On his Broadway debut in Illinoise: “In school, we had a two-day workshop with Justin Peck, and I approached it like a category as a result of, to me, that’s all it was. However at the back of my thoughts, I knew he was somebody I wished to work with due to his portfolio, which spans so many platforms. Then, a few weeks later, I obtained an e mail from Justin saying that I used to be supplied a job in his manufacturing, Illinoise, and I used to be past excited. Although we have been informed the workshop wasn’t an audition, as dancers we’ve got this intuition to deal with every thing as if it’s an audition and to be ready. It’s not essentially so as to add stress however to know that you simply by no means know who’s watching or the place it may lead. I’m glad I had pleasure within the workshop and targeted on enjoyment with out anticipating an consequence.”
On selecting firm life in France: “I used to be supplied a contract with Opéra de Lyon every week earlier than we opened Illinoise on Broadway, so my feelings have been at an all-time excessive. I made a decision to take the contract as an alternative of staying in New York. I needed to ask myself the place I used to be going to seek out essentially the most progress, and shifting to France was the choice that scared me extra. However I additionally requested myself, ‘Why does it scare me? Simply because it scares me doesn’t imply I’ll be sad.’ I imagined the place I might really feel most pushed out of my consolation zone after which took the leap. I wasn’t positive what to anticipate, however I’m having fun with it.”
On recommendation for a various profession: “At the start, keep open-minded. Don’t have blinders on about what you need to do. Should you say ‘I solely need to do one factor,’ you may shut your self off to experiences that might pique your curiosity. I at all times knew I wished to discover completely different elements of dance in my profession, however I wasn’t positive concerning the trajectory. Going into my senior 12 months, I figured I’d audition for corporations earlier than making an attempt Broadway later. However it turned out to be the reverse.
Who is aware of the place I’ll go sooner or later, however I’m dedicated to staying open to no matter alternatives come my means.”