Daily Inspiration: Meet Mia Rae Binggeli

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Rae Binggeli. 

Hi Mia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I started dancing when I was 3. I trained in the basics, ballet, tap, and jazz. When I was around 13, I started on pointe and expanded into modern, Horton/graham specifically. In high school, I joined a nonprofit organization called the Vineland Regional Dance Company, in which our company participated in Regional Dance America. Went to Point Park University for dance where I got my Bachelor of Fine Arts. The summer of my junior year I did the professional semester at Broadway Dance Center and that’s when I knew I wanted to move to NYC to follow my dream. After I graduated, I moved to NYC that fall and have been working, gigging, and grinding ever since! 🙂 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has so many challenges. The timeline in which I thought things would happen for me has taken way longer than expected. You really have to establish your reputation as a dancer which involves anything from, classroom etiquette, professionalism, ability to retain choreography fast, finding your style/movement quality that sets you apart as an artist, the ability to take direction, and balancing that all with being a kind person who is a pleasure to work with. 

The biggest struggle is keeping yourself motivated to continue pursuing the dream when all you is “no”. You will go to a million auditions, film a million submissions, and maybe get 1 yes if you’re lucky. It is hard to work towards something that is not guaranteed. I always thought people meant pursuing a dream-like dance is hard because of its physicality but it’s really the mental part. Keeping yourself motivated to go to class, build your network and work a job you hate. 

The second biggest challenge is the return on investment. It is probably like a 1% return rate. You pay to keep training, learning, and growing as an artist. You pay to take classes from working choreographers and people who inspire you. But it doesn’t guarantee you a job. And if you do book the job, the rate does not always reflect the amount of work. So, imagine finally getting the job and it doesn’t even put a dent in your bills. So, it is vital to work a survival job. It can be tough working a job you hate just so you can fund your dream. I cannot tell you how soul-sucking it can be working a job that just takes everything out of you. There have been so many times where I ask myself if it was worth it. If it’s worth working this job for a couple days of joy. If it’s worth living in a shoe box that cost 2K. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I always knew growing up that I wanted to be a backup dancer for an artist. That I wanted to perform live at all of the award shows, AMAs, VMAs, Grammys, Jimmy Kimmel, GMA, etc. It didn’t always start that way though; I trained in ballet and modern for several years. I even when to a college where the focus was modern dance. When I finally got into the right classes so I could be a commercial dancer perfomer, I found that I am a super feminine dancer, which ultimately led to me specializing in choreography that is done in a stiletto. Although I do feel great in commercial hip-hop/street jazz I know my best work is done in a stiletto. 

I am also a creative in a choreography sense. I have been dabbling around with making my own choreography. I’ve created some of my own visuals and do see myself stepping into that choreographer role in the future. But for me, what’s most important right now is my career as a performing artist. 

What does success mean to you?
I define success by how happy I am. I found through my journey and others’ journey, that you can book all the jobs and get all of the validation in the world, but it means nothing unless you are happy. For me, I am the most happy when I have balance in my life. Because I’m not just a dancer, I’m a pilates girl, a dog mom, a friend, a daughter, a foodie, a student, a 10-step skincare routine girl. I lift weights at the gym, I like to make recipes I see on TikTok, I do my own nails and I binge watch Netflix murder series. Because in dance after you book one job, you will always wonder when the next job is. There is no one job that can make you feel like “ok I’ve made it” because the industry is always growing and evolving. So, it is so important to find other things that make you feel good, make you feel accomplished, even if it’s learning how to make the perfect gnocchi or teaching your dog a new trick. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @miaraebinggeli

Image Credits
Jon Taylor Photography
Ab Sesay Photography