Vergi Rodriguez
where are you from/where are you now?
I'm originally from Queens New York (Astoria) and currently live in Los Angeles.
You were literally raised under stage lights. You started your life in a performance with the Harlem Children's Theatre. Off-Broadway shows always seem to sow the seeds of strong talents. What are some of your best memories of that very early phase of your career?
I think some of my best memories of that moment in time were just (about) how dedicated I was to something I loved doing. I would lose all sense of time when I was training in dance class and I loved it. I vividly remember waking up early on Saturday mornings, and instead of worrying about watching cartoons, all I cared about was getting to dance class on time because I didn't want to be late. At the time, l was living in Queens, and we had to take the train into the city to make it on time to class at 9 AM. I was about seven years old when this first started happening. Yeah, you could say I was a pretty "different" child with a "different" set of "goals." Even at that young, tender age.
Musical theatre is a dice roll of experiences. One day, you're digging into the spirituality of 'Godspell'; the next, you're slinking around like a feline for CATS. Quick answer: favorite musical vs. least favorite musical?
I think my favorite musical of all time has to be "Kinky Boots", which I saw in the West End in London. A close second would be the "Hamilton". It’s hard to pick a ‘least favorite’ because I look at most musicals with a ‘performer’s eye’.
As a student of NYC's High School of Performing Arts, your dance career blossomed. However, is it fair to say that as a young Dominican, your dance roots were always there? Dance is a key element of Afro-Caribbean culture & diasporic expression, after all. If this was an inherent talent, when did you know you were a 'good dancer'?
Dance is definitely an integral part of the Dominican / Latin culture, so I do think it was an innate thing that always lived within me. My actual first professional dance class was a West African dance class. I always have had a love for drums, so when I started to learn some of the basic steps, I fell in love with it. I soon moved on to tap classes, and then moved on to a more classical ballet training style soon after. I think being a "good dancer" or that I had "made it as a dancer" was something that I felt like I didn't really accept until I booked a gig to dance for Prince. It was at that point that I felt like I "had made it" and was "good enough" to work with such a successful artist - especially a legend like Prince.
Okay, here comes the list: Britney Spears. Shaggy. Prince. Jennifer Lopez. And even Jessica Alba...You've danced & choreographed concerts & shows, music videos, & even films (like "Honey") alongside & with some major names. Doing the work, and paying the dues - there you are in the thick of it. Which gig was the most special? The most fun? The most surprising? And – sin bochinche - which big star is the slowest to learn the choreo?
This is a loaded question, but I'll do my best at answering as unfiltered as possible. I think the gig that has been the most special to me was working with Prince. Mainly because he was and still is a legend. (He’s) a truly inspirational person to work with and extremely talented. The most fun would have been traveling on tour with Mario Winans. He had some really great places we traveled to, but he was one of those artists that were not only super professional but made working with him fun and enjoyable.
Most surprising I would say was traveling with Shaggy. I traveled to places I NEVER thought my dance career would take me to like Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Ethiopia, Australia, Cape Town, Nigeria, and many others. Those were some of the places that stood out the most to me. It's a bit challenging to say which artist was the "slowest" to learn choreography because there were also times I was slow to pick up choreography. But, overall I think working with some actors it took a little extra time to get them used to picking up steps and a "feeling" for a certain movement.
When you started to move from the background to the foreground, you started getting jobs with MTV & Disney, and the credits started to embolden. Eventually, your choreography work is credited for the MGM release, 'Soul Plane', and an on-camera role for Jim Carrey's 2019 Showtime special, "I'm Dying Up Here". How did you transition from Hip-Hop/Club dance to Comedy?
For me, I think it's a natural evolution to want to try something new and different. On Soul Plane, I was hired to work on some choreography with some of the cast. For Showtime's “I’m Dying Up Here”, I was able to get a guest star role on a show that was produced by Jim Carrey. Acting has always been a part of my career path, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to do so on such a great show. Staying open to opportunities and being prepared is also a part of being able to have a versatile career in the entertainment industry.
You've been a California gal for some time now. Besides the weather, how does the Dominican culture there differ from NYC? Is it difficult to identify & maintain cultural unity? Is it impossible to find the perfect mangú? Are there days when you wake up and miss NYC's nonstop energy?
There is definitely a difference in culture here. Unfortunately, my experience with the "Dominican culture" here has been a little "interesting" to say the least. I may get dragged for this, but this has been my experience working in the "industry" here. I have found that not all "Dominican / Latin" people in the industry are open to give a helping hand. The ones that have to know who they are. Most are just out for themselves; just because you are from the same "cultural background" doesn't necessarily mean they will "lookout” for you. I have been "unfollowed" by certain groups mainly because I wasn't posting pictures like all the other females who you know were "thot thirsty." It is a bit challenging, I'm not going to lie. BUT I have found unity in groups with like-minded Latina women. For instance, there's a group I am a part of called "Chicana Directors Initiative" which is a nonprofit organization that connects Latina directors and cinematographers. It is a very inspiring and motivated group of female directors and cinematographers that have been very supportive in my journey in becoming a director and writer in the industry. It's people like that where I have found the most support and help with my journey, especially since this was the first year I submitted my short film "Dreamer" to the film festival circuit. I CONSTANTLY miss New York City, and no matter where I live in the world, I will ALWAYS consider myself a New Yorker. In regards to mangu: lucky for me, my mom also lives in Los Angeles, so I can always get a home-cooked mangú dish.
What's next for Vergi Rodriguez? What would you like to do that you haven't done already?
Since I am currently on the film festival circuit with my first short film "Dreamer", I would like to finish writing my screenplay and get it produced fairly soon. Hopefully, we will be able to get back to some sort of normalcy next year post-COVID. Even if that doesn't happen, I'm going to do my best at staying creative and continue to write new content.
Once a dancer, always a dancer: What keeps you dancing these quarantine days?
I mean, these days, I hardly really professionally dance anymore but when I do, I like to play & dance to hip hop songs from the early '90s. There's something about that era that always gets me going. Also, I've been listening to some 80's music as well. Someone just turned me onto the new Busta Rhymes album, which I'm really loving a lot now.
What advice would you give to a young person from the diaspora who wants to do what you do?
Well, this career path takes a lot of dedication and having a thick outer shell. You have to not only be mentally prepared but also physically. With any path you take in life - if you want it bad enough -you have to be willing to work for it tirelessly. When I was training as a dancer, I wanted it more than anything. I would do anything to get to my classes or be a part of any project I was presented with. Things don't just fall in your lap. Anything and everything I've ever achieved in the entertainment industry, it's been because I worked for it, trained for it, and felt the readiest I could be when the opportunity was presented. Study and stay open to constantly learning how to hone and refine your skillset, which is what will make you stand out from anyone else.