We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marialexia Hernandez Imbert. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marialexia below.

Marialexia, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

-How did you learn to do what you do?

“So, you don’t know that you know anything. Until you know, you know it.”- August Wilson
I am a believer that certain projects come into your life for a reason. I am currently Stage Managing How I Learned What I Learned by August Wilson. It’s opened my eyes to many truths about the lessons in our lives and how places and people shape us. Many detours on this journey have brought me to this point. I have always been creative, but never in a million years, did I think I would end up pursuing a career in entertainment. This is because, I danced since I was three years old. I trained in Ballet, Jazz, Belly Dancing, Flamenco, Folklore, Afro Caribbean… I will be a dancer! Then, my mom was like, “It’s a hobby”. I was like, “Why do I train six days a week, four hours a day if I am not going to do this forever?”, I love dance. It is who I am. It’s always been my biggest form of expression. I could not wrap it around my head that I needed to find something else to do with my life…

You need to find a career that gives you a stable income, like maybe marketing, business, be a doctor or lawyer. (Ha! Is this only a Dominican thing?) It was important to be financially secure and support myself. Having a degree like the ones my mother described, would open doors to a better future. She wasn’t the only one saying this… Schools, counselors, friends were encouraging me to go in a direction that was creative but still “make the dough”. I would go to career fairs and none of these ever really resonated with me because this wasn’t what I really wanted to do. It was a concept I fought silently and thought I must find something within these boundaries because everyone does.

Well, maybe dancing all those years and the determination to better myself, along with social conditioning, gave me the skills to dive headfirst into finding answers. Was I opposed, confused and discouraged? YES! No one told me that trying to figure out what I wanted in life was going to require me to take so many risks and detours. While I was at Miami Dade College, I thought I want to do Animation, I had found me a different form of expression through drawing, and I loved story telling in this form. When I finally thought this might be it, my Drawing professor said, “You are great but maybe you should try…what did you do before? What do you love to do? Why don’t you try Performing Arts”. I was worried of changing my major again and this was NOT what my family would want me to do. Then she said, “Are they paying for school? Do what you want for yourself. It’s your degree…”.

At that time, public speaking and acting, anything having to do with my voice, was terrifying. I was offended that she presented this option to me. As a person who was depressed after moving from Dominican Republic, who had stopped dancing because “it wasn’t in the cards” and then hearing this wasn’t for me either?! It was a stab in the heart. But I considered it…called the Theatre department and switched my major. That was a huge risk because I knew I loved story telling but I didn’t know much about the field or if it was 100% the right choice. Something was pulling me into that world. Since then, I became in tune with my intuition and followed a different path. I learned so much in a semester and it was the first time in a long time I felt a sense of belonging.

-Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process?

If I would have heard those words “Do what YOU want. It’s YOUR degree”, things might have clicked sooner. But I truly believe things come at the perfect time and I am still learning to let go of what I can’t control and how to listen to my gut. Maybe I am biased, I like the slow cooked meals, like a stew picking up flavors and cooking over time into some magical life changing sip. I wouldn’t say I wish I could speed up my learning process. Cause each one of the wins, the mistakes, all of it, have made me better at my craft. They have made me stronger and smarter when it comes to learning and honing my skills.

I’m constantly going, so when I saw the the phrase “speed up the process”, I really thought of this. We live a world that wants the end product, answers and solutions quickly. However, I would love you to slow down and take the time to understand what is required of you. There’s no need to rush this because you will keep encountering these lessons until you are ready for the next challenge. Ask lots of questions, show genuine interest in those you work with, and put care into the things you do. Do the work and show up because this way you stay on track. Don’t be afraid of sharing your aspirations and work with others. Please get involved as soon as you can. Plunge into the fog like a haunted house and be thrilled by the unknown. If you can’t see yourself doing anything else, it’s worth the risk.

I don’t think we ever stop learning the craft, we are constantly evolving and expanding to create and share amazing stories. To clarify, I am a performer, a choreographer, and freelance Stage Manager. Some days I am a wardrobe supervisor, house manager, I work backstage, and I’ve even been an usher. I love being involved with the theatre and telling stories. My craft is a mix of different skills to perform my role anywhere in the industry. This is intertwined, because I use all these skills to create, collaborate and I don’t think it’s just exclusive to me being a musical theatre performer or a Stage Manager. They have helped me navigate the field and find multiple opportunities.

A tip that has helped me speed up the process is to always check in with yourself. What am I learning? Do I feel supported and respected? Is this serving my higher purpose or guiding me toward a fulfilling life? Oh yeah… our value as people is not attached to our work. We are many things and it’s possible to find a balance and do what we love. We are allowed to change our minds. This is part of the learning process. The sooner we accept this the quicker we get to where we need to be. I can’t guarantee it’s a success checklist to learn your craft in 30 days, but it has helped me speed up the process. You start to become more aligned with what is meant for you. Recognizing your value and what you want will save you time and painful investments but when things happen, see it as a redirection.

-What skills do you think were most essential?

None of these skills will tell you how to be the best at your craft but these have been essential for me:

1. I’ve found that open communication has been one of the most essential skills. There’s no such thing as a dumb question. Every theater, company has their way of doing things, we all operate differently and it’s important to adapt and communicate to the expectations of the job. Know your capabilities and be honest. I rather overshare what happened in rehearsal today than not say it and assume others know. This gives you a chance to talk about a situation and find a solution together. Also, ask about audition appointments and callbacks, the worst you can get is a no, but if you don’t reach out, you’ll never know.
2. Time management, wooo… this one was big because we want to do it all and please don’t. Get there early, plan for traffic and be professional. No one likes it when you mess with their time. Take care of yourself and allow enough time to rest and to show up prepared. Don’t over commit or overbook yourself for the sake of the credit. Let’s stop normalizing no breaks or days off. This is coming from a workaholic Capricorn hahaha. Make time to study and organize yourself. But also remember to respect your boundaries!
3. Read and attend different productions everywhere. A healthy exposure inspires us and can be moving. We get to see the work in our community, who is creating, curating and shaping the arts scene. We have a huge impact on people’s lives. Reading, watching and observing on and offstage is a game changer skill I find useful for all my gigs.
4. One of my favorite skills is training. Do the work and find industry events, classes, workshops in different areas that will make you well rounded and connect you with other artists, mentors, companies, casting directors or like-minded people. Like cross training your body and brain to prepare yourself for many avenues of happiness. Show up, learn how other’s work and take notes!
5. Finding balance: Juggling jobs and navigating this industry can take a toll on us. Have hobbies, try to do flexible work that you still enjoy and make time to work on your passion. Be resilient and use the dark days to recharge. Have self-discipline and work on your stamina. This industry is brutal, and we need to develop tough skin and treat ourselves. I have been learning to not wait to get the role or job you want to then start getting ready for it. Make the changes now, so that you are ready to receive. This is why balance is important and yes, it’s a skill. Because when we take the time to feel our best, you will deliver your best and that translates into any job.

-What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Money and a small mindset. I do lots of random temporary gigs because I need to keep up with my indulgences and high maintenance needs…haha. I perform at birthday parties, I sub dance classes, I work as a PA for events and films. In all honesty, I can’t sit here and say I make my living off one gig. I need to make sure I cover my finances and have back up. There are moments where I get nice checks and others where I rely on savings. You gotta strategize so you can also take breaks and be good in case of an emergency.

There have been times where I can’t afford to train or to work in a $15 an hour job within my field because I can’t afford it that at the time. But everything is temporary and if you save a little you can eventually take that class, go to the shows, do more of what you love. My trick is to plan when I feel stuck, so that eventually I have the choice. It is a privilege to create art and to choose what you want to do for living. I remind myself that there’s always a choice and I am realistic with my needs and my desires; then go from there. Sometimes I want stability or a break, that’s all good. We deserve it. Take a deep breath and figure out what you want. You can do it! Stop thinking you are behind.

Look I can blame finances, bullying or social conditioning for getting in the way of me learning my craft. However, the biggest villain here is my limiting beliefs. I started with a push from my professor, but I would self-sabotage myself. I felt unworthy or that I needed to work for free because of my lack of experience. Then that changed because I surrounded myself with people who were in the game and going through the same shit. I made a constant effort of working on an abundant mindset. I began attracting and surrounding myself with people who protected and celebrated my energy. Most of them don’t work in entertainment and I think that their outsider point of view has helped me take a step back and reflect on my career and the obstacles in my life.

Overtime, these obstacles became smaller, and I regained my power. I bounced back, hungry and explored works I identified with such as Latino stories, women playwrights, contemporary work, movement, tons of research, etc. I take the time to learn about what’s going on in the world and learn different techniques through Google University and Youtube. I dance at home and look at auditions as free classes. I pushed passed the “You don’t have a certificate in this or experience in that”. Now I say, “Okay! What can get me closer to what I want”. I looked for people and experiences that allowed to grow and learn. I put myself in a place that inspired me, surrounded by people that shared their challenges and that believed in me more than I did in myself. I felt motivated and I started to gain the self-confidence to dive into this career 100%. My faith in myself waivers from time to time but I vowed to remind the little storytelling dancer in me, that her voice is limitless, and her form of expression is boundless.

Marialexia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started working in theatre in 2015, as a Stage Manager, and quickly fell in love with the process of putting together a production. I love being involved and seeing stories lift off the pages. Around the same time, I took acting classes and decided I wanted to learn what other job opportunities piqued my interest in the field. Luckily, I found a passion for performing and teaching. It has changed my life and added more joy to it. I’ve danced my whole life and thought that when I let that dream go it would never come back. But my path has led me back to my first passion. I have come to it with new knowledge and use my training in various styles of dance to continue story telling. In between gigs, I teach musical theatre presentation and explore motivation of the movement through acting choices. We play and find ways of using our instruments to connect and engage in a scenario through dance. I like teaching dancers and those who consider themselves actors first, to feel confident in their story telling abilities and movement. It’s not about a perfect pirouette or how flexible you are but how you use your entire body in relationship to the space and others to tell the story. Also connecting and being truthful. While, honoring our bodies and where they are at in their own journeys. I think it’s important to create safe place to train and bring out the best in each student. When I choreograph, I like to give them freedom to make creative choices with their character and I adapt to their skills to build the world. It’s very collaborative and helps us make something special together. Previous works include Legally Blonde Jr at Seminole Theatre Players, Moana Jr. at JCAT and Spotlight Musical Theatre Summer Camp at MVSA.

I take all the skills I learn from teaching, dance classes and acting workshops into my work as an actress. I’m a South Florida based performer. I am currently the dwarf in Actor’s Playhouse production of Narnia. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and a Bachelor of Science in Communications: Broadcast Television from Florida International University. When I’m not collaborating behind the scenes, I’m on stage! Previous credits include: Jeykll & Hyde (Ensemble), Prueba (Guadi), Rubenology (Mimi/ASM), The Polar Express Train Ride (Bailey), The Addams Family (Mal Beineke), The Diary of Anne Frank (Anne), The Little Mermaid (Flotsam/Adella/Scuttle Puppeteer), Aida (Ensemble), Cabaret (Kit Kat Girl “Fritzie”), and In the Heights (Ensemble).

At times this career is discouraging, but I love to move people and inspire people through the arts. It’s changed my life and my goal is to make it accessible to those that want to be a part of it. I work with non-profits, volunteer and get involved in facilitating and providing opportunities that encourage us to use our imagination and reflect. The arts play a big role in our society, culture and it shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford it. Growing up if I wanted to take dance, music or acting I had to pay lots of money to join. Later, when I moved back to Miami from Dominican Republic, I was able to continue my education because of grants, internships, and mentorships. I found opportunities to explore my curiosity for the arts. My biggest advice is to look up different opportunities locally, read about events, and even start your own groups and find other fellow artists that want to make an impact and share the knowledge. Don’t wait to be discovered, give yourself the chance and the platform to create opportunities for yourself and those in your community to thrive and share all your gifts. There’s enough space for all of us. Together we can inspire and support emerging artists and nurture the community to continue living creatively.

I am so proud and delighted to discover parts of myself through my work. It’s been healing and has given me a purpose in my life. When you do what you love and surround yourself with a community that supports you, you feel like you can accomplish anything. I am allowing myself to be present and find joy around me. The work I do, all the many gigs have fulfilled me in countless ways. The pros outweigh the cons, and I am more at ease with my choices because I am learning to ride the wave. I am grateful, successful, abundant, and I am thriving because I am not waiting for validation from Broadway or Hollywood. I am doing what I love, following my own path and happy with my journey. I consider that success!

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think something that can be hard to grasp about the artist’s journey is our commitment to the arts despite the hardships. I went to New York for a period of time, it was rough, but I knew it wasn’t going to be easy and I worked like a dog. I started to wander and after 6 months I felt like a cog in a machine.

I was working 4 or 5 jobs to save for rent, pay student loans/other debt and save some money to continue training. Some people or most would say, you are insane. Get 1 or 2 jobs and maybe dance when you have free time, you will live more comfortably. However, these jobs all gave me freedom to audition, train and gave me something new to do everyday. They were vastly different from each other and allowed me to try different things. I wasn’t involved in theatre as much as I hoped but I couldn’t see myself doing a 9-5 in insurance. It wasn’t for me.

Fast forward, I came back to Miami for a holiday gig and when that was over I contemplated going back. I decided that since I wasn’t doing things that really moved me I had to shift and find a job that fufilled me. Yes, less than 5, maybe 1 or 2 because I was crazy, and try to focus on what served me. I started working in a theatre again and it was like $15 hr but I could take that because I moved back with my mom to save money and figure out my life.

Now, I complain about how I want my privacy and my own place again. Non- creatives or creatives would say save the money, just get another job. But I don’t want to settle working in a job I am going to hate to rush and move out somewhere I can barely afford. It’s a choice, I am working on saving money to move out again. But for now I am happy that I have the chance to work in something I love. I will figure the rest out. I don’t think you need to deprive yourself of basic needs to show your commitment to acting. I think it could be hard in this economy to stick to my choice in career but I have found other avenues of happiness that are helping me adjust to my life style choice. Not everyone has financial help form their parents or someone to share bills with. I’m still learning and if other artists can do it, I can do it too!

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my view, society can go watch these shows, stay involved and make it part of their life to watch live performances. It doesnt have to be theatre but to tap into their curiousity and be surprised. Buy art from local artists, tickets, merchandise, donate, offer services that can help them. Become sponsors and donors, share information about these artists with your friends and bring them along. Give us feedback like: What did you enjoy? What would you like to see? I think there’s a lot of local talent trying to promote their work. We need to give back to artists because they give us so much and their work is important to society. It’s a service to help others heal, feel, reflect and connect. I think we need to find ways of collaborating with other businesses. We can help each other more by using the resources and talent in our community for us to all thrive. Share the art, volunteer, commission art work or hire them to work on awesome events.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @aixelairam
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/marialexia-hernandez-97402a11b

Image Credits
Very Old Man With Enormous Wings- Photo by Ivan R. Lopez.