Dancing is a sport or an art form which includes physical movement and most importantly is a way of ones self expression. Is a non verbal communication between humans which can be the most depicting language of all.
Choreography is the art of creating this body language and a person which creates is a choreographer.

Vergi Rodriguez is not only a choreographer but an artist. A artists who speaks ever so softly and politely as you hear the linguistic words come out of her mouth. She's in her native New York working and promoting projects and taking the time to speak and motivate students throughout. "New York is a melting pot, I'm more looked at as a Latina, people are more aware culturally. In LA, I have learned a lot about the business and how it works, seeing sets and working on projects, the amount of information is great from seeing people and being next to people in the business." She depicts to me her learning lessons the business has taught her, and might I say it has taught her well. She could have easily gotten caught in between the lies and fantasy of dating rappers to actors to producers, but this Dominican Queen from Queens, opted to take another route and let her work speak for itself. "When I was little I wasn't one of those kids who my mom had to worry about me being late to dance class, I was driven to not be late, I would tell myself, 'I cant be late to dance class, I cant be late to dance class,' Instead of cartoons on Saturday mornings I was in dance class," This fuel at such a young age, is what was helped this talented soul reap the benefits of her hard work. She started off with Broadway productions in her young years, attended the prestigious New York City High School of the Performing Arts, but caught her first break dancing for Mr. Purple Rain himself, Prince. She's danced with some of Hollywood's best dance steppers. From Brittney Spears, to J.Lo, P. Diddy, Missy Elliot and choreographed in numerous video sets and world tours. But one great accomplishment came, when she served as an assistant choreographer for the Jessica Alba high school hit, "Honey." This opened up a door for Vergi to choreograph and be credited for her work in the movie "Soulplane."

"There's highs and lows, but generally, Ive had to reinvent myself, I don't know... is who I am. Something I have, is when you have a down.. is coming up with something new," Vergi talks to me and begins to acknowledge how hard it can be to deal with the curves life throws at you, but how rewarding those moments become, to who you are and who you are to be. "In times of a crisis, which I don't like to say a lot, I cry and I cry," she laughs as she begins, "At crossroads I meditate on it, I don't want to be stuck if not working I ask advice... I have that support group." One thing she believes an artist needs to sustain in the roller coaster ride of the entertainment business is, "Training, family support, church groups, dance groups, you gotta try to be around people who wanna be around it, essentially one person inspires everybody else."


Styled by: http://www.myspace.com/tarotvintage
Photo Credit: www.matee-photography.com

This was the same inspiration she found as she discovered her talents along the ladder of life. The way Fred Astaire and West Side Story, motivated her to discover her three talents, sing, dance and acts, all in tune and without missing a beat, is the same inspiration she reflects as she speaks with you. One of those talents, which may not be under her resume and at times overlooked, is that of her confidence. "Just stay true, not just stay focused. Constantly have confidence, you get soo much rejection.. for me now I learned, I used to ask, 'What was wrong with me?,' You have dry spells, is none of those things, it boils down to confidence. Vergi's personality does nothing but inspire you, "Ive been to casting agents and their like, 'Your Latina? What kind of Latina?,' I pick my male friends brains, those in the business, to know what worked for them and I step away and I create my path, is like stepping to unknown, is the path I've taken and I've been successful, thank God. If someone wants to be a doctor you have to take certain steps, there's no format in entertainment, but is about staying educated."

A wise person once told me, a educated mind is always attractive and seeing through this conversation, Vergi Rodriguez is one stunning woman. Not only can one see her great physical shape is thanks to a great workout regimen and I'm sure some great mama genes, but at one time in her life, her sushi binges had to come to an end. She learned she was diagnosed with a problem facing many young women today at an alarming rate, "I was diagnosed with high cholesterol, because I like french fries and Tempura on my shrimp. It was a scare, the least you want to do is hurt yourself. Is not about skinny and being in a magazine, is about living a healthy lifestyle."
Her healthy mind and soul, is one which one can see has become a barricade for her, as to the way women are portrayed in the business, "I never went that route," speaking on the "fast-reach-for-the-top-lane" entertainment has to offer, "I made sure I was comfortable, not to take away from anyone, is a individual decision, there's a time and a place for everything and I have done videos where women were portrayed great," just like her, there are great moments and it can be one of yours too.

Shes finished choreography work on the Kids Karaoke DVD B-KIDZ with producer extraordinaire Sergio George. One project in particular close to her, is her production work for the pageants of Miss California Teen Latina and Miss California Latina. It is no surprise why she has been involved in pageantry, as she holds a crown of her own for many young ladies in the world. Her words of advice, "Do something that honors you, that queen mentality in you, if it is buying that chapstick, is ok, loving yourself is ok.You can only attract that mentality,"

The story she illustrates to me, has made me realize, how she has artistically communicated with me a form of art. Dance can embody, express ideas and tell a story, the moral to this one is to not be afraid, let loose and perform. In which ever way you know how to best, express yourself and communicate who you are to the world. If for one second you feel your hard work is going unnoticed, just grab a hold of Vergi Rodriguez and dance with a star!

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To view Vergi's new websiode, please visit:

http://www.goforbroketheseries.com/

http://www.misscalifornialatina.com
http://www.vergirodriguez.com
http://www.myspace.com/vergir
http://www.twitter.com/vergiluv
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExUPs_Fmkp8