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Jessica Torres

@jessicatorres.26

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Dancer | Choreographer | Singer | Director
@cliconservatory cy5 alum

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I’ve been putting this post off because I truly lack the vocabulary to describe how much this show means to me. But I’ll try anyways…

Anyone who knows me knows this musical holds a special place in my heart, and I’m so unbelievably beyond proud to be able to tell this story. I’ve been waking up every day thinking “Did I really do In The Heights?” and mourn the fact that’s over. I genuinely can’t even begin to express how much this whole process meant to me. Meeting the cast, building the set, singing the songs, waving my flag, all of it. I started with tears, when I opened the email saying I made it into the show, and ended with tears, on closing night holding my flag high. And I hope that everyone who came to see the show shed a tear because of the overwhelming amount of love coming from that stage. I may not have lived in New York long, and I may be a no sabo kid, but I feel like I’ve joined a community where I was welcomed regardless. This show was just another reminder that I am so privileged and blessed to do what I love because not a lot of people are. So thank you to everyone who made my dreams come true - Puerto Rican #7 🇵🇷❤️‍🩹

📸: @kennethrcard #intheheights #hispanicheritagemonth #puertorico #linmanuelmiranda

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We tried the “I Want You Back” Dance Challenge.

#iwantyouback #nsync #dancechallenge #iwantyoubackchallenge #dance

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I genuinely can’t believe that I was able to be a part of such a magical experience. This show is forever going to be near and dear to me. From the set, to the family we made away from home, to the absolute beautiful performance we had left on that stage. It’s truly an understatement to say that I found my island. ❤️🇵🇷 (photo cred: @dirtygrainphotos and @vhs.asia)

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“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
- Winnie the Pooh (believe it or not)

What can I say about In The Heights that you haven’t heard me say already? It’s the best musical. Ever. Point. Blank. Period. Argue with the wall.

There will never be enough words to express my love for this story and my love for this cast and crew. Every night I’m up there I’m reminded why I do it; for the abuelas (my Lala in particular, every Alabanza was for her), for the Nina’s and for the Sonny’s (and yes, even the Ari’s). Never in my life has a show made me feel so connected to my roots and where I came from, and I’m even more grateful I got to bring it back with the best familia I ever had the joy of sharing the stage with. Doing this show will never be the same again if it isn’t with you all…

…well, until we do it again in ten years, of course 😉

Photo creds: @dirtygrainphotos @kennethrcard @vhs.asia and her digicam (but mainly Ari taking the best pics of me)

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My first Community theatre show In The Heights!! And what an amazing community to do it with. Playing an ensemble role was so fun!! And a highlight to this show was our sound, this cast sounded amazing; putting so much emotion and care into the storytelling, im going to miss this cast❤️❤️ Thank you to all who came and thank you to those who sent wishes from home🫂🩷

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CLI graduation!!!!!! I'm an official CY5 alumni now

I can't beleive everything that's happened in the last year. I'm thrilled I got to meet so many amazing people, I'm truly grateful to everyone. I shoved as many pictures as I had in here but there are so many moments and people I wish I could've shared aswell.

I wrote so much more but it was too long for the Instagram limit but here's the abbreviated version!

Thank you @teddyforance for creating such a unique and incredible space and thank you for everything you do for us at the @cliconservatory I did so many things I thought would be impossible for me thank you so much for creating somewhere where I could prove myself wrong. Thank you @nichols14 for inspiring me to stay true to what I'm do and how I do it, every word you said to me truly meant so much. I keep all your wisdom close to my heart. Thank you @riileywaatts so much for taking the time to notice the little things about each of us that means so much in something that can seem so grand and impersonal at times. I aspire to the way you observe things and how much you care for others it's truly beautiful to see the art in such a pure form. Thank you @jennip1021 for bringing life into your classes. Every time you would bring in a combo it just hit right for the moment. I truly loved your classes thank you for pushing me when it felt like I couldn't do anymore. Technique foreverrr!!!!!! Thank you @stephshumway for having fun with your teaching, I loved to see you hit those dances while we were doing barre combos. Your classes never felt heavy or tense your merriness was contagious! Thank you @caseygonzo for letting us slow down and focus on absorbing everything that was being thrown at us. Thank you @jwayno2 for making singing not scary, I'm still hitting those warmups nearly everyday. Truly inspiring! Thank you to my wonderful mentor @theresastone91 I learned so much from you. I still can't beleive I got to learn from you, I loved the conversations we got to have and how much care was in your teaching. I can't wait to learn more from you in the future!! I can't thank enough @krysiastcyr and @whosyourkuya I wish I could type more words ❤️❤️❤️

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When karaoke becomes line dancing during this song 🎤 🕺🏽
Leading and singing with @johnmanigo “September” by Earth, Wind, and Fire

Awesome karaoke night hosted by @someasianguy96 with family and friends in July

#filipino #karaokenight #linedancing #september

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amazing shots from my time @cliconservatory
already missing it so much🩷
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📸: @alexisrosephotographyy

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cy5 🤍

At graduation, @riileywaatts talked about how movement communicates feeling in a way that words can’t. That has always been something that I have appreciated and connected to in dance. And I am so grateful for the people, place, and art form that have made this experience something beyond what most words can describe.

To all of the faculty and CY5 - thank you for the best year. For being people that inspire me every day. For teaching me lessons that I will hold onto for the rest of my life. For shaping me into a better version of myself. For all the time, hard work, love, and support you have poured into cy5. And for everything I still don’t have the words for.

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Wow it’s actually over.

It’s crazy to think that my 10 months at CLI is actually over. CLI has helped me grow soooo much this year. I grew not only as a dancer but as a human as well. These 10 months that I spent in a little town in Massachusetts have had such a big impact on my life. I wouldn’t trade these memories or this experience for the world!! Cy5 FOREVER!!!!!

Thank you to @teddyforance and @cliconservatory for making such an incredible program!!

Also thank you to the resident staff for pushing me every single day to be better! - @riileywaatts (I couldn’t find any pics of us 🥲) @stephshumway @jennip1021 @caseygonzo @nichols14

Shout out to all of my friends that I have made this year!! I couldn’t have done it without u guys

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the huggiest domp you ever did see 🫂
@cliconservatory faculty and CY5, you changed my life 🫶🏻 thank you forever

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“Remember you’re always welcome to visit us at CLI whenever you’d like to, CLI will be waiting for you. We’d like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, see you then!” (OHSHC reference🤝)

Cy5….i think I can say if we all sat in one big circle I could go around knowing every single one of y’all’s name, and tell you something incredible I’ve seen you do this year. I remeber that first day meeting everyone and experience our first Teddy class together, we were all pulled through the wringer together, but the point was that we did it together, and that’s when I knew that no matter how tough the week was I’d have others to go through it with. The community we created it something I will never take for granted, there is truly nothing else that will compare to what we had. Everyone supported everyone no matter what the circumstances, it was never quiet on the sides of the rooms. There were always people cheering for others. I made so many amazing friends and made so many memories at CLI that I will hold so dearly in my heart. I wouldn’t be the human I am today without everyone’s love and friendship throughout the year. Every single one of you are so insanely talented and I can’t wait to watch y’all do amazing things!

To all the resident falculty, @nichols14 , Rilly Watts, @stephshumway , @jennip1021 , @caseygonzo , and @kia_thekey . I would not be the dancer i am today without every single one of you guys. I fear i would still be stiff as a board without @kia_thekey hiphop fundamentals class. Every teacher believed in me and supported me in this journey and i wouldn’t have been able to do it without them! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything🤍

Last but not least, I’d like to give one last thank you to Teddy, for creating this program, you have created something so special and you’re changing the future of dance. So many dancers are going to go out into the dance world a better dancer, including me, because of your support. I’m forever grateful you and Cy5.

This isn’t goodbye, just a really long see you later! I love you Cy5🤍🙌

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