Meet Daliana Lopez

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

Hi Daliana, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I moved to LA at 18 years old with roughly $200 in my bank account and a job as a barista at Starbucks. Decision that mow I get to look back at in full hindsight and I think “maybe I should’ve saved first” but If I could go back and re-do I would not change a thing. Maybe I’m not a full time artist yet but thanks to that risk I get to create everyday, I have a sense of self and my brand. I’ve grown so much in the last 2 years since I moved, both as a professional dancer, model, and artist but also as a human. It is true that with risk comes a chance of failure, but there’s something so fascinating about maybe not caring about the outcome because just the risk taking behavior alone can make you feel alive and gift you core memories and not to mention can show parts of yourself rehabs you don’t know yet. Risk is necessary for growth but of course, always calculated.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Im a Dancer and Choreographer, Model and Artist. A woman of many interests I guess. I have been dancing my whole life I would hear the music and I just had to move. In this country is easy to let your kid be artistic and explore, but where I was born: Cuba, things are a little different. When I was around 4 years old I remember expressing interest to learn ballet but the closest ballet school to me was in La Habana which would be 3 hours away from my town. My family was in no condition to move over there so I stayed dancing at parties and with my mom (she is a salsa dancer) At 9 years old I joined a modeling company that started in my town. I thrived on the runway under direction of Sandra Leo Martin for a few years before quitting to start English lessons because our paperwork to move to the US had been started. We moved in 2017 I was 14 years old. I was 15 when I walked into my first dance class in high school after moving to Houston TX. I fell in love with it, started training really hard and by junior year I made the dance team “Inertia Dance Co.”
Inertia made me the dancer I am today and thanks to my directors Amberly Altamirano and YungChris I have a good work ethic and strong foundation. They taught me that dance is more than moving it’s also discipline and emotion. During my last year of high school I joined John Casablancas Talent Agency to try to reconnect with my past in the Fashion industry. I learned a lot and did a 3 months curriculum where I learned about runway, makeup, skincare, acting, etc. After a few months of unsuccessful booking attempts because I never met the requirements, I decided to part ways. but lucky for me I had found a new creative outlet: Painting! Self taught myself from scratch started enjoying to draw and paint. Mainly used Acrylic paints. But would find different artsy projects to get my hands on. At the same time I kept on dancing of course. I was teaching some classes post High School graduation. And got hired as an Instructor at Something New Dance Studio for about 6 months until I decided to make the big move to LA. So many people didn’t think I would make it, or said I would be back before I knew it. It’s been over 2 years since. I’m more confident in my myself and my skills than I ever was. I’ve booked the gigs that little me always dreamed of. Just the fact that I live In Los Angeles is a full circle moment for me. For a year now I’ve worked for the city of LA parks and Recreation Centers, as a dance instructor for kids. I get to provide kids with the space that I wish I had when I was their age.
This year I started my journey as a tattoo artist, something I had been interested in for a while. It’s brought me lots of new perspectives and ways to look at art. I can’t wait to see what’s to come. After having such an eventful life at such young age. I’m now more motivated than ever to expand my skill set and gain as much knowledge as I can.
A good takeaway from my life is to never let others dictate what happens in your life, you are the one behind the driver’s seat so take control.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think LA has some of the most amazing views and heartwarming places I’ve been to. We definitely have to do the Hollywood hike and finish the day at the Observatory check out the planetarium and the outdoor views.
A trip to the beach is necessary! I tend to avoid Santa Monica so maybe Escondido Beach in Malibu or Redondo have good sunset views.
For food we would go to Doubting Thomas in HiFi for brunch and for dinner Quarters BBQ in Koreatown! We are definitely making a reservation tho. It’s always packed.
Night plans could start with chill plans at my favorite neighborhood bar Crawfords and then see where the night takes us.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think I’m made out of every person who has ever believed in me and supported me in any way, so many people hold a special place in my life. But if there is someone who truly deserves a shoutout it goes to my mom of course. She sacrificed herself and went thru a lot in Cuba, and then provided for me and my brother as a single mom when we moved to the US. I want to make her hard work pay off! It’s my motivation, she keeps me going.

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Image Credits
Zhihan Fan Lendez