Show & Tell: Meet Valerie Volmar Vega

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Q: How long have you been in Las Vegas?

A: About five years. In my last year of high school, I auditioned for a show here in Las Vegas — they were doing auditions in Puerto Rico — and I actually got the job offer, but I didn’t finish high school yet. So my dad was, like, “You’ve got to finish high school, and then we’ll talk about it.”

Q: When did you start dancing?

A: I knew at the age of 10 that I wanted to be a dancer. I would stand in front of a mirror doing my own choreography. I loved music. That’s how you really know: When you can feel the music in your body, just going up from your feet. … At the age of 10, I auditioned for (performing arts/ballet) school, and it was ballet every morning from 7 to 11 and then, in the afternoon, were the academics.

Q: How long did you study?

A: I went to that school from fifth grade to 12th grade. … But I went then to take other classes for dances like jazz and hip-hop, because my school only provided me with ballet. I wanted to do something else and looked in different places. … For me, the best dancers you can find out there are the ones that have that background in ballet.

Q: Was auditioning for that Las Vegas show the first time you thought about leaving home?

A: Yes, that was my first time. It was definitely scary, but I was so excited I was going to be able to do something bigger than if I was just staying in Puerto Rico and kept doing what I was already doing.

Q: How did that show go?

A: It was awesome. It was really good, and the company was a little unstable, but I didn’t care. All I knew was, I was this close to what I really wanted, so I’d just have to hold on a little bit. So I did (that show) for, like, two years.

Q: How did “Le Reve” happen?

A: There was this audition posted … and it said on the website it was a ballroom audition. I studied every other specific dance but not ballroom, so I had no idea of what the ballroom specifics are. But I was, like, “Know what? I’m going to go to it and I’ll take it as a class. I won’t even think of it like an audition or put any pressure on myself.” … Then, they would keep cutting people and I was still making it through. And, then after two hours dancing full-on, I slowly started to understand, “OK, maybe I can make this.”

Q: Do you ever go to nightclubs and show off your moves?

A: No (laughs). I only do it at work. I like to have fun, but I won’t do what it is I do every night. I will be the silliest dancer on the dance floor. (Laughs). I swear, I’ll be doing some crazy stuff.

Q: You’re getting married (on June 23).

A: Yes. We met in the show.

Q: You play “The Dreamer.” Who does he play?

A: My fiance (Sebastian Zarkowski) plays the bad guy. (Laughs) He’s my fake love in the show, and in real life, he’s my true love.