Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Manuela Oliveira. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Manuela , appreciate you joining us today. Have you signed with an agent or manager? Why or why not?

When i first moved to LA i tried reaching out to agents via email and even showed up to their office but it worked differently this time they wouldn’t set up meetings or open the door, the way to do it was audition. Agents hold yearly auditions and hundreds would show up to these auditions and it overwhelmed me to go and i’d always gotten an agent wherever i lived or travelled by meeting with them and showing them the work I’ve done so auditioning was new for me. So i decided to continued to train and meet people in the industry and somehow i would make myself known enough ha… and one day i caught the eye of a teacher who’s class i was taking, he asked me who i was signed with and immediately i said I don’t have an agent yet and BaM he set me up a meeting the next day and i was signed :) what’s true for you is what’s true for you :)

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

I’ve been a Professional Dancer and choreographer with over 18years experience. Originally from Sydney, Australia in a Portuguese family. Dance has always been apart of me naturally at social events with the family. After highschool i went to college for business and administration but knew that wasn’t it, it didn’t excite me and one day i decided to go take dance classes in the evenings after work (i was full time managing a clothing store at the time) Those classes began to ignite a fire in me that nothing else had done and i knew I’ve found something that makes me feel more alive then anything else.

I then began hearing the story of other dancers at the studio that were working professionally as dancers and training in New York and LA and that i too could do that. That moment is where the artist in me stood up fighting from within, there was nothing more i could think about. So what did i do i decided to make the decision to pursue this as a career which was scary at the time as i didn’t know if what i was doing was right but i knew that i didn’t want to live wondering what if, it required sacrifices I’d never taken, in relationships, at work and in the family change had come and i wanted to take the jump and go for it 100%.

So i did and soon on the Plane to NYC and the scariest as coming from the comfort of my home and family into the concrete jungle took some adjusting this little cub soon growing up into a tiger. I trained for 3 months every day first class of the day till the last class of the day 6-7 classes a day. Jazz, ballet, Hip Hop, breakdance, popping, locking, contemporary, freestyle. There was no turning back. I returned back to Sydney and seen my growth and potential and LA was now on the list to do 3 months of training and so i did for the next 7 years it was trips back and forth to NY and LA increased my skills built my resume in Australia and Asian with job opportunities before attaining an Artist Visa to live and work in the US the first dream come true so then moved to LA, Trained my way up there and networked got an Agent and the rest is history I’m now a citizen and have attained beyond what i imagined and continue too which has now made me set bigger and bigger goals.

Credits include Dancing for Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Sara Bareilles and more, Choreographer on Hit TV shows So You Think You Can Dance, The Voice, X-Factor USA and Many TV Commercials.

What sets me apart is my story everyone has one and that’s what makes every artist in any field unique. I am proud of my courage my persistent and the Faith in me to have taken the jump for having gone for it, i would never have known my true potential hadn’t i gone for it and now that makes me reach for higher and more.

I went from Dancer opportunities to teaching opportunities and then Choreography and Creative Director Hats. I gone from working in a dance crew to booking branded jobs and performing with upcoming Artists to A List Artists and working on Top TV shows as well as shooting many TV commercials.

When i work for a brand i study it as much as i can to understand the brand, its mission,purpose and image and i create aligning with it all making each project i do unique to the brand or Artist.

I work with Artist as a dancer and or choreographer whether for stage shows or as movement coach preparing them for stage or music videos. I also choreograph and work on Music videos for Product brands.

In between all the professional booking and jobs i hold workshops and classes.

For full credits My webpage it www.manuelaworld.com

How did you build your audience on social media?

Posting up to 4 times daily across all media platforms is definitely a consistent action I do that continues to keep me getting work and keeps my presence alive. It can get exhausting on a daily to keep creating content but a big part of today’s social Media.

Have you ever had to pivot?

My Biggest Pivot was when i first decided to leave Australia to move to LA it was a hard decision as the industry didn’t have security in a career but my own faith in me, and then being flexible to travel and relocate for different opportunities and away from family to pursue my career, I’ve had opportunities to take working in Malaysia and Taiwan and did so all building my experience and made me who i am today. It’s easy to stay in the comfort but greater to outgrow it and look back and see your growth. Pivotal Points come to test how bad you want that dream and goal you envision its a sign to go for it.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.manuelaworld.com
• Instagram: @manuelaworld
• Facebook: Itsmanuelaworld
• Linkedin: Manuela Oliveira
• Twitter: Manuelaworld
• Youtube: www.YouTube.com/manuelao
• Other: Tik Tok: Manuelaworld

Image Credits
Photographers: Hunter Valentino, Mike Quain, Officialjpnyc