We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Isadora Bonumá a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Isadora, thanks for joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Imagine abandoning a promising career in law to follow an artistic calling that has burned since childhood. This was exactly the courageous decision of Isadora Bonumá, a talented performer who traded Porto Alegre, a city in south Brazil, for the vibrant stages of New York City, in a journey filled with risks, challenges, and above all, a passion for art.

Before New York, Isadora was already a force in Porto Alegre’s artistic scene. As a dancer, actress, teacher, director, and producer, she accumulated experiences and collected successes. However, a part of her was still dedicated to studying law, a choice that seemed to offer a safer and more conventional path. This duality between art and law created an internal conflict, a search for a balance that she would only find by fully embracing her true vocation.

In 2019, a course at Steps on Broadway, a renowned dance studio in New York City, ignited the flame that Isadora had kept for so long. The immersion in the world of dance and musical theater reinforced the certainty that her place was on the stage. Since childhood, she knew that art was her calling, but she lacked the courage to fully commit. That course was the catalyst, the turning point that propelled her to abandon law and invest 100% in her artistic career.

In 2019, Isadora earned a 70% scholarship to the Institute of American and Musical Theater, but the 2020 pandemic postponed her plans. However, not even the quarantine stopped her. With her contagious energy, she joined the direction, production, and cast of ‘What About Jazz?’, a musical theater film that brought entertainment and hope to homes during social isolation. The project, which had sponsorships from several brands and more than 36 artists, demonstrated Isadora’s ability to turn obstacles into opportunities.

With the end of the pandemic, Isadora was accepted to study at Broadway Dance Center in 2021. In New York, the opportunity arose to audition for a full tuition scholarship at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), one of the most renowned performing arts schools in the United States. Her exceptional talent and remarkable trajectory earned her the ‘Emerging Artist Scholarship,’ a highly prestigious honor. The scholarship represented not only a recognition of her talent but also a chance to refine her skills in a stimulating and challenging environment.

The immersion at AMDA’s intensive program boosted Isadora’s artistic development. Despite missing Brazil, she flourished in New York, honing her skills and expanding her horizons. After graduation, Isadora not only worked as a singer but also produced her own cabaret series, ‘The Soiree.nyc’, gathering her band and guest singers to perform great Broadway and pop music hits, creating a space for the artistic community and new talents. In addition, she created her own solo show called ‘Bossa in Portugues,’ a tribute to Brazilian music that enchanted American audiences. Sharing her culture and receiving recognition for her hard work validated every effort and risk taken.

Back in Brazil, Isadora brings with her a rich wealth of experience and countless projects in mind. She plans to start a series of shows in her own country, this time presenting American classics to the Brazilian public, strengthening ties between cultures and continuing to build community and provide space for new talents. Isadora’s story is an inspiration to all who dream of following their passions, showing that boldness and perseverance can turn risks into achievements and leave a lasting legacy.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

For those unfamiliar with my work, I’m Isadora Bonumá, a performer in every sense of the word—dancer, actress, singer, director, producer, and choreographer. Though I’d been dancing and singing since I was four, I initially took a detour into the world of law during my college years. It seemed like the more practical choice at the time. But even as I studied law, my passion for the stage never faded. I knew from a young age that art was my true calling, and eventually, I found the courage to follow it.

A pivotal moment was taking a course at Steps on Broadway in New York City in 2019. That experience solidified my desire to dedicate myself entirely to performing. Even when the 2020 pandemic hit and postponed my plans, including a scholarship I had earned to the Institute of American and Musical Theater, I didn’t stop. I found ways to stay creative, even during quarantine, working on a musical theater film called ‘What About Jazz?’ which brought entertainment and hope to people’s homes.

Ultimately, I moved to New York and studied at the Broadway Dance Center before earning a full tuition scholarship to the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA). That was a huge turning point. The rigorous training at AMDA in acting, dancing and singing was invaluable, and it truly honed my skills.

Now, I create and perform various types of artistic works. I’ve produced my own cabaret series, ‘The Soiree.nyc,’ which showcases Broadway hits and pop music, giving a platform to other talented artists. I also created my solo show, ‘Bossa in Portugues,’ a tribute to Brazilian music that I performed for the American audience. Beyond performing, I also have experience as a dance teacher and choreographer. I’m deeply passionate about using dance to tell stories and create truly well-rounded performers. I believe that technique is essential, but it’s equally important for dancers to be actors, to embody characters, and to convey emotions through movement. I see my work as building community and bridging cultures. I want to create spaces where artists can thrive and where audiences can connect with meaningful performances.

What sets me apart, I think, is my diverse background and my unwavering dedication. I’ve experienced the pull of a more traditional career path, so I understand the courage it takes to follow your passion. I’m also passionate about bringing different cultures together through my work, and about developing dancers who are not just technicians, but true storytellers.

I’m incredibly proud of the ‘Emerging Artist Scholarship’ I received from AMDA, as well as the success of ‘The Soiree.nyc’ and ‘Bossa in Portuguese.’ These projects represent not only my artistic growth but also my ability to create and connect with audiences.

The main thing I want people to know about me and my work is that it comes from a place of deep passion and a desire to connect with others. I believe in the power of art to inspire, to heal, and to bring people together. I want my work to be a testament to the fact that taking risks and pursuing your dreams is always worth it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to connect with others on a deeply emotional level. It’s about more than just performing steps or singing notes; it’s about telling stories, sharing experiences, and evoking feelings.

I believe that actors and performers, in general, are professional empaths. We train ourselves to understand and embody a wide range of human emotions and experiences, often stepping into the shoes of characters very different from ourselves. This ability to empathize deeply allows us to connect with audiences on a profound level, creating a shared experience that transcends individual differences. Ultimately, the most rewarding part is seeing the impact my work has on others. Whether it’s inspiring someone to pursue their own creative dreams or simply providing a moment of joy or reflection, knowing that I’ve touched someone’s life through my art makes all the hard work and risks worthwhile

I’m also passionate about building community through my work. Whether it’s through my cabaret series, ‘The Soiree.nyc,’ which gives a platform to other artists, or my solo show, ‘Bossa in Portugues,’ which celebrates Brazilian music and culture, I love creating spaces where people can come together and connect. As a teacher and choreographer, I find immense joy in helping other dancers discover their own voices and develop not just their technique, but their ability to tell stories through movement. Creating performers who are also actors and storytellers is incredibly fulfilling.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One lesson I had to unlearn was the limiting belief that certain dreams were ‘impossible.’ This question resonates strongly with some ideas I’ve been exploring in Napoleon Hill’s ‘Think and Grow Rich.’ Its teachings apply far beyond the realm of finance and offer valuable insights into this very topic. Growing up, you often hear phrases like ‘be realistic’ or ‘that’s not for someone like you,’ and these messages can subtly shape your perception of what’s achievable. For me, because I was already performing, there was this subtle pressure to choose a more ‘stable’ career, hence my initial foray into law. It felt like I was supposed to have a ‘backup plan,’ as if my artistic pursuits weren’t enough. It was like there was this invisible barrier, telling me that fully committing to my passion was too risky, too impractical.

The backstory to unlearning this, comes from all the people I met in New York from all walks of life making their mark in the arts. As Napoleon Hill wisely said, ‘There are no limitations to the mind except those that we acknowledge”. It’s all a matter of deciding what you want most and having the courage to pursue it wholeheartedly. My journey, from navigating the challenges of the pandemic to earning a scholarship at AMDA and creating my own shows, proved to me that nothing is truly impossible if you’re willing to work hard and believe in yourself. We really do create our own reality.

It wasn’t an overnight realization. It was a process of challenging those ingrained beliefs, taking risks, and seeing the positive outcomes. It was about realizing that ‘realistic’ doesn’t mean settling for less than what you’re passionate about. As Napoleon Hill also said, ‘Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything.’ Now, I understand that the only limits are the ones we set for ourselves, and that’s a powerful lesson I carry with me in everything I do while also keeping in mind that this means burning all the bridges that don’t lead me to my dreams.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @isadora.bonuma

Image Credits

head shots are by Olive Juice Prints by Elise @olivejuiceprints