Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Cuellar.
Hi Ana, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Born in Monterrey Nuevo León Mexico started gymnastics at the age of 3 years old, my first national competition was at 6 years old, and I was part of the gymnastics Mexican National team. Graduated with a Theater degree from the art school Centro de Education Artística (CEDART) Alfonso Reyes and a Contemporary Dance degree from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, School of Performing Arts. While there I was granted the Talent Scholarship as well as the Individual Artistic Development. I completed “The Meisner Master Program” at Truthful Acting Studio in Orlando, Florida.
She joined Cirque du Soleil in 2004 and performed at La Nouba as their team captain I led the Aerial Ballet in silk dancers and performed the Aerial main solo dance as well as the understudied for the main role of “La Petite Madam” during my 13 years tenure with Cirque du Soleil.
She has received many accolades in 2012 she was honored with the “Tenochtitlan Award” by Casa Mexico in Orlando Florida. Ana earned the “Successful Mexican Woman Award” in 2015 for her contributions in Central Florida, and was recognized with the National award Flama Vida y Mujer 2017 in Monterrey NL Mexico.
From 2019 to 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world she was the Artistic Lead/ Artistic Coach/ Choreographer at Cirque du Soleil at sea, training, and integrating new artists during cast changeovers. Utilizing all her experience on the Cirque stage as well as her educational formation as a dancer.
Creating new work and directing the younger generation of artists as they embark on their journey across the oceans delivering a taste of Cirque du Soleil to an international audience in the cruise industry worldwide.
Ana is the Artistic Director and choreographer of Ana Cuellar Productions, where she produces shows participating in performing arts Festivals and events like Orlando International Fringe Festival, Latin Choreographer Festival in New York, and among others in Mexico, New Jersey Guatemala, Las Vegas, etc. Nominated for the 2018 – 2019 Broadway World Orlando Awards – Best Choreography (Professional) with her acclaimed shows LUNA and HOMBRE. Currently, she is creating her new show for the Festival Latinoamericano de Artes Escenicas 2022.
When she was a gymnast, she started to look for colleges to follow her dreams, both as Industrial Engineer and Theater Performer, unfortunately, there are still many people who don’t believe in arts as a career. Ana was led to believe that she was part of the college gymnastics team just because she had a scholarship for her gymnastics skills, therefore, she had to select a “real career” so she chose Industrial Engineer as a major.
Ana was about to take her exam to start but when the Director of the university approached and asked her what she wanted as a career, she told him about her love for acting and gymnastics. The Director told her what are you doing here then? for him was clear that she did not belong in the engineering faculty and he told her to think about it, so she did and never came back to the engineering faculty. Ana took off to fulfill her real dream of a Theater career. At the performing arts faculty, she struggled to excel because she was very, very, shy. One of her acting teachers told her about dance and encouraged her to take a dance class, she remembers telling him that she hated to dance, and he asked her if she have tried. Ana said no, she thought the dance was for little girls, the teacher asked her to give it a try, so she did. Ana went to the best dance schools in Monterrey, and she was accepted, Ana fell in love with dance she didn’t come back to the theater. However, thanks to her 5 years of training in acting Ana was no longer shy and dancing was natural for her. Ana combined her gymnastics and acting skills in one art form. All this led her to the cirque, when Cirque du Soleil directors hear all about her performing arts journey they loved it and asked Ana to join the company. At first, she said NO, she didn’t know anything about Cirque du Soleil her dream was to be a member of the Martha Graham dance company in New York, but Cirque insisted and sent her a video of one of their shows, and Ana was captivated because she thought cirque was a traditional circus, something she was not interested in. After Cirque du Soleil sent Ana that video she accepted the invitation to join the company and I went to train with them in Montreal in 2003. Ana was one of the first Mexicans to join the company, she has been in cirque since then. Ana join the show La Nouba in 2004 until its closing in 2017, then she moved as a Choreographer and Artistic coach for the company.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was born in a less fortunate family but very lovely, I took public transportation every day to go to my Gymnastics and my schools I traveled 90 minutes one way, it was a challenge but my family always supported me, my big challenge was to find a scholarship for my career because I wanted to study at the university, so I was accepted at the college gymnastics team of the University in Monterrey NL and with good grades, the university granted me another scholarship. I received another scholarship to become part of the dance company of the university. I completed my studies with 3 scholarships.
A dance teacher didn’t believe Cirque du Soleil want me because I was a “Mexican” dancer but I remember turning around and saying to him “watch me”.
Sometimes, we will have obstacles in life, but just like in gymnastics you have to trust your skills and you go over them. Keep working hard to achieve your goals. it will make you stronger to overcome anything.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My productions
LUNA
HOMBRE
FRAGMENTO
EnMi
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Success is reaching your goals by always doing your best and never giving up.
Contact Info:
- Email: anacuellar1@yahoo.com
- Website: http://www.anacuellar.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/anacuellar2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnaChoreographer
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/AnaCuellar1
