I was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia and, as a kid, my family life orbited around the stage. Whether it was joining my father to watch him teach his theatre classes, watching my uncle work during rehearsals, or spending time with my mother while she worked on the Teatro Colón admin team. I got to spend my free time running and playing, with the theater as my playground!
Once I graduated from high school, I wanted to explore a newly found dream of studying literature, so I packed my bags and moved to Salamanca, Spain, to begin studies in Spanish Philology. Although life between phonetics, literature and syntax were pretty fun, theater found its way back into my life. I auditioned and was accepted into a budding student theatre company called Teatro Lunático. In the second year of our young company, I was chosen to direct my very first play: Pervertimento, by José Sanchís Sinisterra. I was struck with how much I enjoyed the collaboration element throughout the entire process.
Once I knew I wanted to develop my skills as a director, I packed the bags, and also my recently acquired boxes loaded with books, and moved to Madrid for a year, while I applied for a Fulbright Scholarship to find a university to start my directing studies. After the whole selection process, I ended up choosing University of Arkansas. With my bags packed and boxes sent, by ship I might add, I headed to my new home: Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Three years passed quite fast, and I made some good memories, and many lifelong friends with mentors and peers. I also learned many things about theatre and directing which still continue to help guide me today. Once I earned my M.F.A. in Theatre Directing, I returned to Bogotá. I spent another three years at home reconnecting with my hometown and teaching theatre to college students.
After my time back in Colombia, I moved to Chicago. I had visited before and it felt very similar to Bogotá in the fact that there are tons of theatre happening. This time I brought as much as I could in two bags and started my life in my new (and current) home. I have been able to meet and collaborate with so many artists, and go back to my alma mater town to direct shows as well. I also get to combine teaching Spanish as a second language with theatre projects.
Today, as a theatre professional, I try to find projects that are outside of my comfort zone, whether that is helping in the conception of new works, a literary adaptation, or a playwright I have never read before, to try to decipher their work. I also believe that being in touch with different cultures, methods, and techniques will continue to help me develop my directorial voice. I still love working with an ensemble in highly collaborative processes. My big dream is forming a theatre ensemble to take on new and old work alike, following the steps of so many legendary theatre companies, and becoming a small part of a tradition that is centuries old.
