This Friday, dance group Shaping Sound is coming to the LSU Student Union Theater. Performer Ricky Ubeda talked with The Daily Reveille about reaching fame at a young age, his Tony nomination, Shaping Sound and more:
The Daily Reveille: You are one of the winners of “So You Think You Can Dance,” when was that and how has your life changed since that experience?
Ricky Ubeda: Well, that happened in September of 2014 and it changed everything about my life. I was in highschool and right after I graduated I went on the show and did that for the summer and won. After that, I went on a 77 city tour around the nation with “So You Think” followed by a Broadway show. Everything has skyrocketed into a career that I have wanted for as long as I can remember. It really changed my life for the better in all aspects.
TDR: What was it that pushed you to go on “So You Think You Can Dance?”
RU: “So You Think You Can Dance” was actually the reason that I started dancing when I was eight. Everyone in the first season inspired me to dance. And if it was still on when I was older, I wanted to be on it anyway that I could, and eventually it all came full circle.
TDR: You were up for a Tony. What show got you that nomination and what was it like getting that kind of recognition?
RU: I was in “On The Town.” It was a revival. The whole company got nominated for it, like, the show itself was nominated for the Tony of Best Revival of a Musical. It was really awesome. I had never done theatre before. Joining “On The Town” and the cast was such a magical experience, and it made me really fall in love with theatre, which is something I want to pursue when I finish with Shaping Sound. That show has changed my life in an aspect that I never expected.
TDR: How did you get involved with Shaping Sound?
RU: I worked with our Artistic Director Travis Wall on “So You Think You Can Dance” and we always had a great time and a great relationship on the show. I then went and did the Broadway show. Travis got word that the show was over, and it was perfect timing for me to join the company and to go on tour with them last fall. He then asked me to join the company, and the rest is history.
TDR: For people that don’t know, can you explain what Shaping Sound is?
RU: Shaping Sound is a commercial dance company. So, think of like a hybrid between a theatre show and a conservatory dance company. It’s mainly contemporary dancing but it also has a lot of jazz dancing and Broadway dancing. It has a through storyline from beginning to end so that you are actually following a story. That sets it apart from dance companies that do different pieces per se. It’s a really incredible “first of-its-kind” type of show.
TDR: How has the tour been going so far?
RU: It has been wonderful. We are just starting out right now, but everything has been great. It has been a little colder than I would have liked it to be. Other than that is has all been great.
TDR: What are some challenges that you face when touring?
RU: Personally, traveling makes me a little crazy. Traveling so much makes me pretty disoriented. I always have to deal with that on my own. Speaking as a company though, I can say that our bodies get a little funky because we are just dancing so much within each show.
TDR: Are you excited that the tour is going to be bringing you to LSU and Baton Rouge?
RU: I’ve been to Baton Rouge before but I don’t think that I have performed before at LSU. I love LSU dancing, fun fact. I am really excited about it. It should be a great time.
TDR: Other than the show, do you have any big plans while you are in Louisiana? Any plans to stop by New Orleans?
RU: We usually decide what we are going to do when we get there. We normally take things one city at a time but I hear that Louisiana is incredible.
TDR: What advice do you have for aspiring dancers?
RU: I would say that anything is possible as long as you have the work ethic behind it and the right intentions behind it.