Sydney Lotuaco ’14

“I remember feeling right at home when I first walked through the doors at MMC,” BFA Dance alumna Sydney Lotuaco ’14 remembers. Her college years provided her with tangible life skills, important mentorship, and personal and professional relationships that continue to influence her life.

“Every member of the Dance faculty shaped not only my career, but my life and how I thought about dance in general,” she says. “They tuned my body and my technique, yes, but mostly shaped my mind and helped jumpstart my career path.”

As a graduate, Lotuaco’s love for dance drew her to audition for the New York Knicks’ dance team, the Knicks City Dancers. After five grueling days of auditions, she was devastated to learn she had been cut, but decided to use the experience as an opportunity to grow. She reached out to the head coach for feedback and, instead, received a call back offering her a spot on the team—there was an unexpected opening for the upcoming season and the job was hers! Having learned a crucial lesson in perseverance and positivity, Lotuaco advises, “Just never give up, because things can change at any moment.”

Lotuaco is currently a Senior Trainer at Physique 57, a premiere barre fitness studio. She is represented by MSA Agency and Bella Modeling Agency and has kept busy with recent gigs, including appearing as a contestant for “Know of Go” on The Ellen Show, performing in an international commercial for Shiseido cosmetics (under the direction of Ryan Heffington), and, most recently, competing on the 23rd season of The Bachelor.

For current students, Lotuaco recommends making the most of the relationships forged at MMC. “Do your best to not burn bridges, and work your hardest in every opportunity you are given—big or small—because you never know where those experiences could lead further down the road.”