Meet Lily Repace | Deaf/ HOH Dancer, Model & Actor

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

Hi Lily, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
“You were given this life because you were strong enough to live it.”

This quote is special to me because I was born deaf/ hard of hearing and also have chronic kidney disease. It’s all tied into a rare condition called branchiotorenal syndrome. I’ve been through 6 surgeries with the last one being the biggest but most successful making it possible for me to do more of what I love which is dance, act and model. Before that surgery when I was 6 years old I wasn’t able to do any type of flip and my balance was off and my hearing was getting worse because the bones in my ears were deteriorating due to all the tissue caused from the previous surgeries. My ENT doctor in Sacramento reconstructed the bones in my ear and removed the tissue and it opened the doors for me to do more with my passion. I still have just one kidney and have to be monitored but dance heals me and actually keeps me strong and just doing what I love keeps me strong. I do not think being deaf/hard of hearing and having a chronic illness means I have to stop going after my dreams I think I was given this life because I can show other kids like me that we were given this life because we are strong enough to live it.

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.
I was born deaf/ hard of hearing and couldn’t wear hearing aids even though I got them when I was 4 months old because of the amount of fluid I always had in my ears. My pediatrician recommended putting me in dance classes to keep me socialized and my parents did because I always loved music and dancing because when I couldn’t hear it I could feel it. I started dancing at 3 years old and it hasn’t stopped since. I faced challenges because I had fears sometimes in dance because I couldn’t go upside down for long and doing flips were just not even something I would try. At 5 years old going on 6 I joined a competition team and danced many hours and my parents got judged for it but I loved it so they didn’t let those judgements stop them from taking me. Good thing they didn’t because at 6 years old I found out I was down to one kidney and my nephrologist told my mom the dancing is keeping my kidney strong. I also had my life changing surgery on my ear which made it possible for me to do some tumbling and be upside down which made me a stronger dancer. After 4 years of doing all styles of dance competitively and acting in our recital shows I realized I really loved hip hop and I really loved acting and modeling, which led me to LA. Sometimes it’s challenging being in large settings trying to learn dances because my hearing aids can’t handle all the sounds and the teacher can get muffled out. I’ve learned to watch the movements and read lips. Lessons I’ve learned are that there is always someone who has it harder than you and to be grateful for what you have. I’ve learned that if I want to do something I will find a way to do it. I might be deaf/ hard of hearing and I might have a chronic illness but it doesn’t mean I can’t live a life I want to live. I want to do what I love all while being my authentic self and sharing my story in hopes to inspire others out there like me or have it harder. It important to have a great supportive system but it’s even more important to believe in yourself. I want people to know I’m a deaf/ hard of hearing dancer, actor and model and I’m not ashamed to show off my bright pink and blue hearing aids because they are a part of me.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to all the dance classes I love going to at Playground LA, Mihran K Studios, Eighty Eight, and Off Stage and also have them join me for a day with my Cubcakes Dance Crew too at the Basement of Noho to see what my Sunday Funday looks like. We definitely have to go to Boba Time in Noho because they have the best flavors and macaroons. Santa Monica Pier is a must because they have rides and the beach all in one place. We would go get frozen yogurt at Penguin and watch the sunset at the Marina sitting in the bed of my Aunt’s truck. To eat we could go to Pit Fire, Good Day Thai Kitchen and Cafe, King Me Tacos food truck on Lankershim and just search for new places because there is many amazing spots and I love to try new places.

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 would not be in LA and living my dream if it wasn’t for my Cubcakes Dance Crew and Director, Thalia Ramos. It’s not just a dance crew we also do journaling to reflect and learn about ourselves and why we do what we love. Joining Cubcakes opened many opportunities for me and the support from Thalia and Co-Director, Markus Pe Benito to be my authentic self in everything I do opened up so many opportunities for me because I knew what I wanted to do. I was signed by DDO Kids at the end of 2022 who have been the best representation for me for VO, theatrical, commercial and print. My goal is to also get representation for dance so I can eventually work towards being on stage and one day choreographing pieces for big artists like my mentor, Ruby Pappan. Getting to train with her and see a show live that she dances in and choreographed for Karol G only made made my dreams bigger. She also tells me nothing is unattainable and training with her is always something I look forward to. I’d also like to shout out Luna Monkiki, Guy Groove, Shane Bruce for their support and training. I live in Sacramento half the time and I’d like to shout out Jalen Tyre who I train with in hip hop and who is always so supportive especially when I have to leave last minute for LA. My love for dancing and acting started with Shelly Christy she brought me out of my shell and had me competing for her studio for 4 years and putting on shows for recitals. I love to do creative projects and I cannot forget to shout out my favorite videographers Cole Black and Koncept and also my favorite photographer, Claudio Robles. I cannot forget my parents, grandparents, my Aunt Shivani and little brother and doctors because without them I wouldn’t be able to do any of this. The amount of love and support I get from my friends I’ve made through dancing, modeling and acting classes I’m so grateful for and for all the deaf/ HOH community. And last but never least, shoutout LA for helping make dreams come true!

Website: https://linktr.ee/lilyrepace

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

Image Credits
Claudio Robles Vela Estrela Valencia Free Emmanuel Ramos