Meet Kassie Vasquez | Professional dancer and instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kassie Vasquez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kassie, how do you think about risk?
Risk taking is incredibly scary but very necessary. I have found throughout my life and career that the greatest things have come from the times I’ve taken risks. I currently have a job I love because I took a risk. A few years ago I had a friend ask if I wanted to teach color guard at a drum corps over the summer, to which I responded with a hesitant “yes.” I did not have much teaching experience at that point, and did not fully know what I was getting myself into. I had performed with a drum corps years prior, but teaching was a different beast. That risk led me to a job and career that I love. I felt right at home teaching and ended up coming back from the summer to teach color guard at local high schools. Now I am the director of a high school color guard, another risk I’m taking, and continuing to further my choreography, teaching and designing skills. It also requires a lot of risk to pursue a career in the arts. Putting yourself out there on a regular basis, whether it be networking, taking class or auditioning, is an intimating thing to do. Every time it requires confidence and willingness to fail. I think that’s what people are most scared of with risk-taking. Failing and trying again is a process I am familiar with and a part of the process with a creative career. I have learned to take bigger risks and take risks more often over the last few years, which I will continue to do in every step of my life/career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Getting to where I am professionally today involved a lot of hard work, and still continues to require commitment and dedication to putting in the work. It also involved a lot of exploration and trying new things. I started dancing at the age of two and have been training ever since. Throughout that time there have been many moments of doubt. In those moments I had a supportive group of family, friends and teachers to pick me up and remind me of what I have to offer the artistic world. I found a love for contemporary dance in high school and developed a new sense of musicality. I learned how to listen to music for the subtlety and how to visually capture the musical notes I was hearing. Going into college I knew I was about to explore a new style of dance for me—modern. I studied the Limon, Horton and Graham-based lineages throughout my time at Cal State Fullerton. That exploration led me to a style more based in released technique. I found a real love for suspension and release through Limon that peaked my interest and pushed my artistic range. I also discovered a love for language and writing that fed my dance composition work. There is something about the relatability of spoken word pieces and the irregularity of the human cadence that really peaked my interest. That is something that sets me apart from other artist. That is a theme that I like to explore. I listen to music and spoken words scores with a curiosity for how the language meets the music, finding ways to express that through movement.

Something else that sets me apart from others is my color guard background. I spent my years in high school and college performing in color guards, even competing in DCI over three summers. That kind of story and character performance really informs my artistic style. It taught me how to perform on a larger scale. It also just gives me a unique set of skills to put on my resume and make me stand out. Being in color guard afforded me opportunities to perform in venues I never would have imagined like the Colts Stadium and Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Now, I am an active teacher and director in the Southern California color guard community. My job is something I love and something I am passionate about. I get to expand my choreographic vocabulary, work on designing shows and serving as an artistic director in that sense, and develop my own teaching style to take with me into the dance world.

I am most excited for what the next few years have in store for my career. I feel like I’m in a prime time for both artistic growth and career growth. While there may be some nerves diving head first into my creative career, I know that the risk is worth it. I am proud of the work I’ve put in over the last few years and am ready to start putting all the lessons I’ve learned to use. I am excited to learn how to choreograph for larger groups and how to visually develop an idea from start to finish. I also want to continue performing and auditioning for dance opportunities that come my way. I feel the momentum I’ve been building and I am just excited to see where it continues to take me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I know exactly where the trip would start…my favorite coffee shop in Orange County. I would spend the first part of the trip exploring Orange County. We would go to the Orange Circle for coffee at Contra and a little stroll through all the antique shops, boutiques and thrift stores. We would definitely have to end the day getting Italian ice at Confetti in Costa Mesa. The trip would also include a few local hikes in Orange County. I would have to take my friend to Laguna Beach to explore the town and go to the art museum right on the beach. After exploring Orange County, we would make a few trips to LA. That would include exploring the Last Book Store, The Broad, maybe even the Getty Museum and Getty Villa. Exploring LA would include trying some restaurants I’ve never been to, but always wanted to try—Girl and the Goat and Sampa LA—and exploring coffee shops in LA. I love to explore new places with friends, so that would be the driving force of the trip.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that deserve more than a little recognition in my story. I want to dedicate my shoutout to my family. It is with their support that I am able to feel confident and comfortable pursuing my dreams. They let me believe that I could do anything with my life growing up, and for that I am eternally grateful. I also want to acknowledge Lume Dance Collective and its directors Maryann Chavez and Monika Felice Smith. I’ve been training with them for a few years now and the lessons have been countless. The welcoming environment they create really fosters the artistic individual in a safe space. They also are so generous with their wisdom of the industry and guiding dancers just starting out in their own careers. Lastly, my color guard teachers who trained me and gave me the opportunity to teach. Without that opportunity, I would not have the career I am creating.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassiecreative/

Image Credits
Lindsay Rosenberg
Alyssa Park
Catherine Fisher
Rachel Kendrick