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

Alright, Jorge thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Well yes, I have made it possible to earn a living from what I am passionate about, and it was a process of many sacrifices because I had to emigrate from my native country and practically start from the beginning and redo what I had already done for years, step by step creating my students and dancers to form the foundations of my academy today, and I think there is no way to speed up the process when you talk about learning, so it was always a new challenge every day but in the end it has brought us the results we wanted

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

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Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Jorge Melo is an international instructor of afro latin dances and Venezuelan folklore and a paramedic with a cardiopulmonary specialty.

With over 20 years of dance experience, Jorge created a foundation called the Casino Stars of Venezuela in January 2005 with the intention of constructing a unique and innovative style.

The foundation’s activities and objectives include: teaching people of all ages; and making donations and creating scholarships for low income Venezuelans with the talent and capacity to learn the art of dance.

As team Director, Jorge has had great fortune in molding the troop with extensive coaching from world-class instructors. The infusion of Ballroom dance and other dance styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Hip Hop, Salsa, Bachata, Latin Hustle, West Coast Swing, Kizomba and Traditional Folkloric dance has created a team of highly experienced and diverse dancers that are sought after globally.

The Casino Stars have performed in over 500 festivals throughout Venezuela and in many other countries/territories including: Norway, Ivory Coast Africa, Angola, Aruba, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Italy, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain and the United States. They now reside in Houston, Texas.

Me and the Casino Stars members, separately and together, have been awarded multiple titles/championships at a national and international level.

I world champion in different divisions as a dancer also as a coach.

Now we are teaching at soundbox studios on chimney rock and Richmond
You guys Al welcome to joining us anytime

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to make people feel safe and self-confident, that they can express what they feel through the universal language of music and dance and make their lives much happier both for themselves and for the people around them. .

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, dancing, teaching, creating, acting is the most important thing, it makes me happy and I really feel privileged to be able to live from what I am passionate about.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jorgemelovenezuela1.wixsite.com/jorgesalsa/biografia
• Instagram: @jorgemelovzla @thecasinostars
• Facebook: Jorge Melo
• Twitter: @dinastiamelo
• Youtube: The casino stars