We have the honor to have as Forum Artistico’s artist of the month Merrin Trombka, a young dancer, choreographer and dance wear designer.
Merrin Trombka Dancer
Forum Artistico: You are a Dancer, can you please tell us a little bit about your beginning as an artist, the main reason that made you choose this profession and if there any persons in your life that influenced your decision?
Merrin: I started dancing when I was two years old in my hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. My Mom had been a dancer, so she put me in ballet classes as soon as I could walk. Ever since then, dance has been a part of my life and I can’t imagine my life ever being without it. I definitely knew that I wanted to pursue a profession as a dancer by my early teens, when I had my first performing opportunities in ballet school, and realized how much I loved it. My first dance teachers encouraged me to pursue dance, but also told me that making it as a professional dancer was not easy. I have always loved a challenge, so I think that was another factor that made me want to push myself to see where I could go with my dancing. I definitely was always positively influenced by my mother, who saw the spark I had from the very beginning. She, along with our family friend, the former Ballerina and now Ballet Mistress of Tulsa Ballet, Daniela Buson, encouraged me to keep going even when the pressure was difficult during my ballet training.
F.A.: What was your family reaction when you told them that you decided to be a professional artist? Did they support you from the beginning or somebody was concerned about your decision?
Merrin: I am so blessed to have such a wonderfully supportive family that has always been behind me. They saw that I had a passion for dancing, and told me to go for it.
F.A.: What kind of training did you have as a young student? What style do you feel more comfortable with now?
Merrin: I always studied classical ballet, as well as character dance. I didn’t really experience other types of dance until I went away during the summers, but I eventually got quite a bit of experience in jazz and modern as well as flamenco, which I studied during a course I did in Madrid. Ballet is always my base, and I am so thankful to have grown up with that training. But now that I’m up in New York doing a little bit of everything, I’d say that the other forms of dance that I am most comfortable with are theater jazz (รก la Rockettes) and flamenco, which I’ve been studying for a few years now.
F.A: It is not easy making a living being an artist, in any moment of your career, could you totally support yourself with your artistic work or you have/had to work in other job(s)?
Merrin: So far, because I have been doing mostly project-based work with different dance companies, I have a side job to supplement my income. There have been a few months that I’ve had more than enough income to support myself from my dancing jobs, typically when I’ve been working more than one at once, but I still have kept something on the side…and just put the extra cash into my dancewear business.
Merwear clothing line by Merrin Trombka
F.A.: Looking at your biography I see that you are also a dancewear designer, how did everything start? What inspires you? Do you think about a particular dance piece or dancers?
Merrin: I do design dancewear. Since moving up to New York, I’ve started a small dancewear line called “Mer-Wear”. It’s a lot of fun. I started by accident when I was home over a summer, just taking classes at Tulsa Ballet to stay in shape. I found some fun fabric at a store in town, and had a local seamstress make some warm-up shorts for me. When I wore them to class, I got a lot of attention, and ended up having to get some made for all of my friends. My aunt, who is very business-minded, made the point that as a dancer, work doesn’t last forever. She planted the seed in my head to start this new business, which if successful, is something I could continue doing for the rest of my life…even when I can’t get my arabesque up as high anymore, although that never seemed to be a problem for Baryshnikov. In designing Mer-Wear, I actually don’t have a particular dance piece or dancers in mind. Any dancer can wear my clothes. Rather, I eventually want to expand to have my dancewear be for all types of performing artists and active people, whether they do dance, yoga or just go the gym a few times a week. My main inspiration is every time I see someone wearing and enjoying my dancewear.
F.A.: What is your favorite dancer and your favorite dance production?
Merrin: My favorite dancer has always been Daniela Buson, who I grew up watching in Tulsa Ballet. She was my inspiration to become a dancer. My favorite ballet is Giselle and at the other end of the spectrum, my favorite musical is Chicago.
F.A.: Often, the next step for a dancer’s career is starting to choreograph, at your young age have you started to do so?
Merrin: You know, earlier this year, I was unexpectedly asked to choreograph for a musical revue in which I was dancing, when the hired choreographer had to leave. I ended up choreographing and dancing in a short dance number from ‘Chicago’ with about five other girls. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it and our piece in the show was even featured on the local news up in Westchester (where we performed), but I can’t say that I really enjoyed the choreographing process. I’m really happy I had the opportunity to try it, but I don’t see myself choreographing a whole lot in the future.
F.A.: Are you currently working in a project or a production?
Merrin: No. I finished my last dance project in October, and now I’m just taking a bit of time to really focus on my developing dancewear business. I’ve been taking class and going to the gym to stay in shape, and also doing a bit of work as a background actor to work towards my SAG card.
F.A.: What are your immediate and future plans?
Merrin: Right now, my main goal is to find a good agent. I have had some good opportunities, callbacks, etc. come about even without having one, but an agent could really help me get where I want to go in the entertainment industry, and faster. I want to really be put out there for the roles that I fit, because I feel that I have a lot to offer as a dancer/singer/actress. On the business side of things, I am currently working to focus Mer-Wear down to just my best-selling products, and make those available to dancers all over the world. Once I’m a bit bigger, I look forward to expanding the line from there. Artistically, I just want to push myself in all areas and see where the opportunities open up. I am hungry to take advantage of all that the New York entertainment industry has to offer.
F.A.: Professionally, where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Merrin: In 10 years, I see myself having danced on Broadway, and moved into more work in Film and TV. Mer-Wear will be worn around the world by both dancers and non-dancers, and will have expanded into a wider market.
F A: Based on your personal experience, what would you advise other young artists that are thinking of undertaking a career as an artist?:
Merrin: I would say, do what you love, but also be realistic. The dance/entertainment world is not warm and fuzzy. You have to know who you are and be passionate about what you do, but also know that for every person like you, there are 10 more that are better and hungrier for success. You have to work on your weaknesses but also play up your strengths, because you may have something naturally that others don’t. Above all, be true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to give yourself a little pep talk when you need it. You have to be your own best friend in this world because no one else will be.
F.A.: Is there anything else that you would like to share with us?
