Every so often, we’ll chat with an alum about what they do and how they got there. Today, we’re talking with Rhea Marasigan ’03, information systems management (with a dance minor) about what it’s like to juggle careers in graphic design and dance.

Name: Rhea Marasigan (A.K.A. “Ria DeCastro” on stage)
Job:  Graphic Designer, Dancer
Employers:  Spectrum Brands HHI and RheeDesigns (Marasigan’s side-business)
Based in: Los Angeles, California

Q:  You recently were featured on a dance webcast called DancePlug (click here to view)…what has been the highlight of your dance career thus far?

A:  The highlights of my dance career thus far since moving to Los Angeles, California are:

1. Having the opportunity to dance alongside professional dancers and work with NappyTabs (Napolean and Tabitha D’umo of SYTYCD) on the set of 5 episodes of the Fox Show “MOBBED;”
2. Being a background dancer extra on both Mandy Rain and Angelique Sabrina‘s music videos, and;
3. Being able to back-up dance for Jazzlyn Marae for one of her performances. I would have never thought I’d EVER get an opportunity to do anything like this from just moving here from Baltimore three years ago but I know NOW that “Anything is possible.”

Q:  What is your favorite aspect of dance?

A:  When I went to UMBC back in 2000-2003, I took ballet, modern & jazz to learn the basic techniques to shape me into a better dancer. I am a better hip hop dancer because of it. I started late in the game at the age of 20 to pursue dance to where I’ve been on many MD dance teams (Fusion Dance Team, Dance Express, Charm City Cabaret) and now I’m starting to do that here in LA. I’m currently on Electric Crew where we are getting ready to perform in Disneyland in February and a Core dancer for a flashmob company called Dance Mob Nation.

My favorite aspect of dance is just being on a dance team that loves to dance, and have fun with no drama. The dance community here in LA is just that. There are a lot of dancers trying to make it here and there is an outlet for those dancers to come together and just dance. It can get competitive in the professional dance industry but if that’s NOT your cup of tea, you can still find other awesome outlets in the LA dance community to perform, compete, etc.

Q: Where do you hope to be in five years, dance-wise?

A:  In five years, I hope to still be dancing and performing or at least still taking dance classes. I have to say that I am now content with where my dance career has been. My focus is now on my design career.

Q: Tell us about your career in design. Does it ever intersect with your dance career?

A:  I’ve been a graphic designer for 13 years now (a freelance graphic designer — at RheeDesigns — on the side for 8 of those years) and I am continuing to learn and expand my skill sets. I am now looking into the film industry to start as a graphic designer to get my foot in the door but I’d love to delve into film editing and/or being an FX artist. I finished taking a film editing class this past fall and am now awaiting next fall 2013 to take After Effects.

I am dedicated to my work as a graphic designer so whenever there is a possible dance opportunity, I make sure it doesn’t affect that aspect of my life. I’ve been fortunate to be able to juggle both careers simultaneously and seamlessly. My full-time job supports my dance career so whenever I have a gig, I can always make arrangements so that both sides have a happy medium. But, of course, I can’t say “yes” to everything so I DO pick and choose the gigs that I want.

All in all, I am loving life right now doing 2 of my favorite passions and living in California where there is always an opportunity to get into.

Q:  How did your UMBC experience help shape who you are today?

A:  I loved my experience of the three years I was at UMBC. UMBC keeps up with the trends, technology and truly cares about their students and their goals. Even though I got a B.A. in information systems with a modern dance minor, UMBC still shaped me into what I am today. I learned that it takes hard work and dedication to get what you want in life and that resonated in me.

I remember in 2002 winning a UMBC dance competition against some boy break dancers and that in itself made me believe that dance was something I wanted to do in life. I loved that UMBC has specific events & clubs on campus that its students can take part in. It allows for students to get out and try new things, meet people and have fun doing it.

Learn more about Rhea’s design here, and her dance here.

February 7, 2013, 8:00 P.M.
Fine Arts Recital Hall, Fine Arts Building

Contact:
Thomas Moore
410-455-3370
tmoore@umbc.edu

Alicia DeWitt
410-455-3495
adewitt@umbc.edu

Download this release.

On Thursday, February 7, UMBC presents in concert the avant garde music ensemble ModernWorks, featuring cellist Madeleine Shapiro, accordionist Bill Schimmel and violinist Airi Yoshioka. The performance will be held at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Tickets are $7 general admission, $3 for senior, free for students and free with a UMBC ID, available at the door or through MissionTix.com.

The ensemble’s program, entitled “Strange Acquaintances,” will feature:
Stille Szenne (1991) by Wolfgang Rihm
Apparitions (2006) by Phillipe Hersant
Spiral Jetty (2006) by Anthony Cornicello
Grito del Corazon (2005) by Judith Shatin
Silenzio (1991) by Sofina Gubaidulina

ModernWorks, which consists of a core of some of New York City’s most prominent performers of new music, is a member of The New York Consortium for New Music and has appeared in New York on Sonic Boom 6, 8, 9, the festival’s 10th anniversary marathon at The Knitting Factory, and Sonic Boom 11.

About Madeleine Shapiro
Called a “cello innovator” by Time Out New York, Madeleine Shapiro is a recognized figure in the field of contemporary music. She directs ModernWorks and performs as a solo recitalist throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. Her work has been called “focused and cohesive” (Time Out New York), “powerful and commandingly delivered” (The Strad) and “played with great skill and sensitivity” (The Washington Post). ModernWorks’ most recent CD was chosen by The New York Times as one of the best CDs of 2009. Shapiro’s awards include three Encore Awards from the American Composers Forum, a Barlow Award, and first prize in Adventurous Programming awarded by ASCAP-Chamber Music America. She is a three time Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome.

About Bill Schimmel
Regarded as the world’s greatest accordionist by National Public Radio, Bill Schimmel has performed with virtually every major symphony orchestra in America (and the Kirov), including a longstanding relationship with the Minnesota Orchestra, as well as virtually every chamber music group in New York, including Ensemble Sospeso and the Odeon Jazz Ensemble. Pop star colleagues range from Sting to Tom Waits, who proclaimed, “Bill Schimmel doesn’t play the accordion, he is the accordion.” He is founder of the Tango Project, which, in addition to his hit recordings with them, has appeared with Al Pacino in the film: Scent of a Woman. The Tango Project also won the Stereo Review Album of the Year Award, received a Grammy nomination and rose to number one on the Billboard classical charts. Schimmel can be heard in the films True Lies, Kun Dun and many others, including those for which he both scored and performed, and a series of films for the Nature Conservancy.

About Airi Yoshioka
Airi Yoshioka has concertized throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Canada as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. She is the founding member of Damocles Trio and Modigliani Quartet and has performed and recorded with the members of Emerson, Brentano and Arditti Quartets. An enthusiastic performer of new music, she is a principal member of Continuum, ModernWorks, Son Sonora, Azure, Ensemble Pi and RUCKUS ensembles. She has recorded for New World, Claves, Mode, Albany and Pony Canyon records. Yoshioka is an associate professor of Music at UMBC.

Tickets and General Information
$7 general admission, $3 seniors, free for students, free with a UMBC ID
UMBC Arts & Culture Calendar: artscalendar.umbc.edu

High Resolution Images for Media
www.umbc.edu/newsevents/arts/hi-res/

Directions and Parking Information
UMBC is located approximately 10 minutes from downtown Baltimore and 20 minutes from I-495.
• From I-95 between Baltimore and Washington, take exit 47B. Follow signs for Route 166 toward Catonsville, signs for UMBC, and then signs to ModernWorks concert parking.
• From I-695, take Exit 12C (Wilkens Avenue west) and continue one-half mile to the entrance of UMBC at the roundabout intersection of Wilkens Avenue and Hilltop Road. Turn left and follow signs to ModernWorks concert parking.

It’s Friday, and the sun is out after a long, long week of rain in Baltimore. So, you know what? We’re going to give ourselves a little virtual high five.

You see, we recently found out that UMBC’s Giving Blog — the very blog you’re reading RIGHT NOW — won a silver award among all sorts of competing blogs in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education’s District II Accolades Awards.

As always, thank you to our Retriever Believers for giving us so much exciting philanthropy news to write about. It really is a joy. Give yourselves a huge high five…and if you’d like a special Friday treat, click on the hand.