Rafa Reyes Hernandez

Photo Credit: Lloyd Mulvey

It is my pleasure to have Rafa Reyes in "The Artists Square" somebody who continues opening up and paving a path in the arts from his place of birth Córdoba, Veracruz to New York City.

I had the opportunity to meet Rafa Reyes at the library of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. It was one of those surprising encounters when you discover the unique and extraordinary international talent living overseas. Rafa takes us through a journey with "A Mexican Affair" and his extraordinary participation in Ballet Nepantla.

How did you find yourself in the arts and how did your interest in dance, singing and acting develop?

R. I've always loved theatre since I was a kid and my parents used to take me often. We spent days listening to the radio and records at home. There was not a moment when we were not listening to music at home with my family.

Once I attended an open house where they were playing "Jesus Christ Superstar" and when I saw it I thought "if the students perform this kind of musicals then I want to study here. Consequently I developed that taste for theatre doing it as a hobby.

Upon completing high school, I had a different vision of what I wanted to do with my life. I liked maths so I decided to go to college to get a degree in Industrial Engineering, of course I never stopped rehearsing for my shows after classes. I had the opportunity to do a semester in Nice, Guaymas and the UCF in Disney and got a certificate in Hospitality Management. Once in Disney I got more involved with the entertainment industry so I became even hungrier for the arts. When I came back to Mexico there were different programs that caught my attention, AMDA was among them. I decided to audition, got accepted with a scholarship in Musical Theatre and this is how I got to New York. But it wasn't until I graduated from College that I decided to pursue a career in the performing arts.

By studying a demanding discipline such as Musical Theatre in a completely different country, how do you see your life in New York City?

Photo Credit: Ben Gabbe

R. When I started school there was something that I lived everyday that convinced me I was in the right place. The physical activity was intense and tough at the same time. The teachers destroy you for you to be able to learn the discipline required in the performing arts. But it was never enough because I always wanted to learn more.

When I graduated, an advisor told me that as an international student, if I wanted to stay during the optional year you get for work after graduation, I had to take every opportunity I could to get experience. I auditioned and connected with friends and got a new perspective. If you work hard and get on board, New York City has many opportunities; it might not be what you were looking for, but I assure you, you will find something.

What are the hardships that you have encountered in this industry and how have you overcome them?

R. There is something I experienced called "typecasting". There were many projects in which I was offered the Mexican or the Latin role but I didn't like the way I was being placed within these stereotypes. Yet I learned along the way that my strength and my qualities are in the fact that I am Mexican and realized this is very well supported in the industry. I had the opportunity to participate in Mexican projects because it happened they were looking for men that could dance Mexican folklore and I could. Also taking the advice to get every opportunity I could, I decided to work in those projects and consequently I was continuously called in. I did several projects within the latin community, but knowing already that my strength and qualities were unique. Likewise there are more opportunities out there for the latin culture such as "On your Feet", "In the Heights" or "Hamilton" that support diversity, and much more.

At the same time living in NYC is not easy, it is a city that you may love one day and hate the next. Living here you have to learn to dodge the adversities, or let them hit you and continue or simply use them to your advantage. There are people who come here and don't learn how to play the game and go somewhere else, which is also fair. I have many friends in Mexico that are being very successful and every time I can I go and see their work.

On the other hand, this is a career where we go against rejection every day. You have an audition and you get a "no", you go to a casting and because the guy next to you had longer hair, they think you're not right for the role, it doesn't matter if your cold reading was amazing, if the director thinks you're not good on camera, the one with longer hair gets the part. It is how you constantly deal with that "no" that comes by default with working in this industry that makes me say "New York I love you, but you're bringing me down!". Still here we are, for the love of art, and at the same time if you take the energy and rhythm that come along with the city, it will lead you to great places because it is incredible to be here.

What's the best that has happened to you in NY?

R. Getting to know the people I had the opportunity to work, study with and learn from. Broadway directors, theatre producers, teachers, actors, dancers, etc. Listening to everything they have to say is very instructive. To observe the good in people with whom you network is very rewarding. Having a good community of friends, doing crazy things, or celebrating together in this industry where rejection is constant, is crucial.

What would you do to improve this industry or open path to others?

R. Networking, is what I'd do more, because when someone guides you, it is the best way to help at least in my experience. I remember when I just got here, the first latin friends I made were the coolest. They said "You speak spanish!. Look, go to this supermarket!" "I recommend my broker", I suggest this director to you, tell him I sent you". To share information and your experiences is good. I've always thought that recommending some agents or casting directors doesn't take opportunities away, on the contrary it gives you more. Every person is different, and the help you offer to someone is going to be useful in a completely different way that could be for you.

Would you go back to Mexico?

Photo Credit: Lloyd Mulvey

R. It was a long time since I was in Mexico, but now that I had the chance to visit with my show, I share the experience that if there is something Mexicans have in common is that we all miss Mexico. Life is colorful there, delightful, and incredible. I miss Mexico and since I live here I've always thought I would like to work in both places. Mexico and all its problems; sometimes with politics we don't know if we should either cry or laugh. Mexico has a lot of potential in the arts. We have to foster this industry because it is a source of employment. The arts is something that is essential to an individual's life. I've worked as a teaching artist, it is so fun and hard at the same time, but the most important part is the contribution of the arts in the education of people regardless of age.

If there is something I would do in Mexico is to create theatre. To bring more of the music I've been working on and support the access of people to this kind of entertainment that would be more instructive than any other that already exists. TV is a very powerful tool but the experience that theatre gives, listening to music, painting or crafting a puppet, it develops abilities and it is important to cultivate them. I would like to apply these tools in the education system, physical and mental therapies.

T​he last project I worked on, which is the show I told you about when we met, "A Mexican Affair", is a project that celebrates bonds and the musical influence between Mexico and the US that have existed for decades. It is a way of supporting Mexico by bringing the awareness that the connection between both countries means strength.

Furthermore, the timing in which we decided to work in this project was appropriate, as the idea started when the current president wasn't a candidate yet or even without his first statements. However the political environment has contributed to the interest in this project. Finding all that cultural influence between both countries and the research of how we could shape it has been very beautiful and interesting.

This week we are going to record the album with all the songs of the project and we would definitely throw a show to introduce it.

How did you choose the name "A Mexican Affair"?

R. The word "affair" has several meanings but I present it as a romantic point of view. It is an affair and a romantic connection for the simple reason that many of the Mexican songs that were written by songwriters in english, all of them have to do with romance. "I went south the border and fell in love", or "My beloved one went south the border", or "I went down the south and a pair of dark eyes captivated me". What I found is that Mexico inspired romantic stories to these writers, the fantasy of love or an adventure in Mexico. And discovering all this cultural influence that exists and now that the political speech wants to deny the importance of the relationship with Mexico, it is an undeniable affair that no matter what, many wish they had.

This is evident with the last Disney and Pixar production hit "Coco". Joined with the music, tourists who travel to Mexico, the amount of Mexican restaurants that are located between my apartment and my producer's apartment in 5 blocks, I won't lie to you, there are 10 of them on 9th ave. There is a fixation with music, food, etc. that even tacos and guacamole are found everywhere nowadays.

It is said that the opposite of love is not hatred but indifference, and that row that some American groups have against Mexico lately is nothing more than frustrated love and admiration. It is a crush with Mexico that appears in several ways, and of course as Mexicans we've had the same crush since forever for the United States. We've let in the american culture and traditions, this is mutual and that's why it is called "A Mexican Affair".

Tell us about your participation in the dance company "Ballet Nepantla" which in fact includes dancers from both countries.

Photo Credit: IG @Ballet.Nepantla

R. Yes, it does, it is an amazing company that started in January 2017. I've been working 5 years in folkloric dance and had the opportunity to travel and learn how people appreciate your culture and roots. They offered me to join them and I loved its foundations. "Nepantla" is a word that comes from "Náhuatl" that means "in between". The philosophy of the artistic director of the company is that Mexican immigrants living in the United States have lived between two cultures, their roots and Mexican traditions and the adjustment to the American culture, neither here nor there. She explores the space between cultures through dance, combining Mexican folklore, contemporary dance and African music. It includes various artists from Texas, California, NY and México. It is a very nice program.

Tell us about a fun fact

R. I've always thought that the fact that I am an Industrial Engineer working in the arts; dancing, acting and singing is very funny. Sounds like the ending of a Mexican soap opera. "He finished school and he went away to fulfill his dream".

¿Do you have heroes or people that inspire you?

R. My family, it has been the biggest support in this adventure because I am the first one to do it professionally. Despite the shock it created, they pushed me to do great at it.

Artistically speaking, it is contemporary people that have inspired me. I love Bianca Marroquin, Mexican, who has opened her own way and has always been a great artist. She is more renowned and keeps forging her name and her career. She inspires me because the way she represents Mexico; she is proud and puts my country's name up high.

Mauricio Martínez, because I remember him from my school the "Tec de Monterrey" in Mexico. He studied in AMDA as well and he's doing great in "On Your feet" with Gloria and Emilio Estefan. I love to see Tony Yazbeck every time he is in a production, he is amazing. I love the work of Al Blackstone and Nick Kenkel who performed in EVITA.

Finally, a friend I met from California. The admiration and pride she feels for her roots is great. She went to audition for the National Ballet of Amalia Hernandez, which is the most renowned institution for folkloric dance in Mexico. She said, "I don't have anything to lose, if I get in, great; if I don't, at least I tried". She auditioned and she got in. It's been 2 years since she's been there. She admired that company so much and now she performs for it every weekend.

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To finish this interview, tell us about your hobbies. What do you do when you're not working?

Photo Credit: IG @Ballet.Nepantla

R. When I don't have shows I love going to the theatre and to the movies. There is so much to see that there is never enough time to see all there is in Broadway, Off-Broadway, etc. I love going to the park. I love finding new places to eat. You never finish exploring everything in NY, there are always new things. I love going out and going for walks. Getting together with someone I haven't seen in a while and catch up with that person.

"The performing arts are a very powerful tool for communication and for the education system. There is still a lot to do. We have to help people develop an interest in theatre. People in the arts like in any thing else, should not be driven by money. We have to create bonds among communities so we can tell our story and the stories of others. Doing art and being famous are very different things which don't go against each other, but in order for a project to be artistically successful, we have to do it with our hearts and be willing to help others. The rest comes as an extra. There are many resources in Mexico which we can work with even in the commercial field. The audience is becoming more demanding and there is a new generation of artists who are making a difference in this industry which is worth supporting. We have to listen to the audience to be able to accomplish it, predominantly by joining forces with whoever wants to do the same as us"

Thank you Rafa for sharing your passion and unstoppable creativity with us. Your enthusiasm to continue creating art and above all, your love for Mexico.