Today we’d like to introduce you to Neilah Carrillo Noa. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Neilah aka Neverless was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She started her dance journey when she was 5 years old, dancing at home with her loved ones. Neverless grow up in a Residential Alejandrino, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico where there were not many opportunities. Living in a Residential (project) was really hard because there were so many dark things happening daily and it was very easy to get involved in the wrong path. There were no places to go and learn dance, so Neverless created on her own with her close friends a way to keep themselves safe and also be in a positive environment creating dance choreography for birthday parties, talent shows at school, and fun.
Over the years she continued dancing on her own until she found a Dance Academy where she joined to learn more about the different dance styles. After a couple of months of taking choreography classes, she asked what else she could do to learn more about the Hip-Hop Culture and continue her freestyle dance but to her surprise, she got a rough answer. The director of the academy told her that “with that street dance you are not going anywhere, to be a professional dancer you need to be in a dance academy” This answer hit her, and she couldn’t believe it but from that moment Neverless realized that place wasn’t for her, she completely stopped going and started building her path with her passion, dance. Neverless was in a couple of dance groups in her teens where she experienced many competitions for talent shows with groups such as Stylux, Perfect Match, and others.
Neverless took her dance to another level and started meeting new people in the dance community. She began going to the club and dancing, cyphering, and exchanging with other dancers, this helped with the learning experience for her and everyone else attending. Neverless began her dance experience in Puerto Rico and had been labeled the Queen and Pioneer of All Styles in Puerto Rico for winning all the competitions she entered for 4 years in a row and for being one of the first ones to establish the AllStyles Dance Battles in Puerto Rico, Danced for Don Omar, Vico C, some TV shows, and also did work in Films.
Before her 20s she was already doing all the above as well as giving back to the community by teaching in the public schools and providing dance in the after-school programs. Neverless was volunteering to help the youth using the art form of dance with one of her colleagues Randy in Catano, Puerto Rico. Her goal was to always give others what she didn’t have growing up using the art form of dance and giving people hope using the freedom of it. Dance and the Hip-Hop Culture changed and saved her life in so many ways that now she feels proud and blessed to be able to give back to others by teaching others what helped her to be better and become the best person she can be for a better future not just for herself but for others as well.
In 2013 and 2014, Neverless was going through a really rough time but always trying to make the best of it, continuing to do live performances and more. She is not just a Professional Dancer she is also a professional Photographer and Model. After those two rough years, Neverless decided to move out in 2015 from Puerto Rico to Virginia, USA with her husband Robert aka Sonik. When Neverless came to Virginia without speaking or understanding English, she had a rough journey coming to VA, it is sad to say but she got treated with racism countless times but that didn’t stop her from continuing.
She decided to push for more and keep pushing to do better for herself and grow. She and her husband Robert started to teach after-school programs providing martial arts classes, and they wanted to bring something different to the school and they wanted to offer dance classes for our youth at schools, these after-school classes began filling up amazingly in about a few minutes of opening registration we had 30-40 students for Arlington County Schools, where classes began to grow out into Fairfax and Loudoun County. Parents and kids were loving the classes so much that the school wanted us to work more with our programs.
This is where our next big step and dream came to life, we created One Take Studios where two of the most powerful art forms taught Martial Arts and Dance classes meet in one location. It was a very scary step, but this was one of our biggest dreams to build something great for the community and welcome students of all backgrounds of all ages. To be able to give back and help the schools with fundraising activities, to give the youth tools of long-life skills lessons, and that can change anyone’s life for a better path. When they opened One Take Studios in Sterling, VA the opportunities kept flooding in performing for artists, Hosting Dance Competitions, and more. We strongly believe that when you are passionate and love something there is nothing or no one that can tell you otherwise about your vision and your goals.
Neverless studied Karate when she was young, however, she stopped after her instructors had to move locations, and picked up the skills again around the 2016 time frame. She is currently a first-degree Black Belt. She has competed and continues to compete in various local tournaments. She is versatile in teaching and working on Nunchaku, Bo, Kamas, Traditional Tae Kwon Do forms, Point Sparring, Continuous Sparring, Self Defense, and Cardio Kickboxing. She has proven her dedication to learning Martial Arts and sharing her passion for it with others and has received her certification to teach all ranks under her in Martial Arts.
Neilah, better known by her artistic nickname Neverless, has been invited to Red Bull Dance Your Style since 2019, at the beginning of this global dance competition. Neilah aka Neverless has been competing in Red Bull Dancer Your Style Qualifiers each year and has also competed head-to-head with the Top Dancers from the USA in the National Finals. Representing One Take Studios, Puerto Rico & DMV every year since 2019 – present.
Neverless is known for the versatile styles of Dance she has accumulated in her over 20 years of experience in dance. She uses a mix of over 8 different styles such as Salsa, Popping, House, Dancehall, Breaking, & More. There were so many comments from people that told her that “no one can’t make it”, and that “it is a waste of time” but she strongly believes in no limitation, and that anything in life is possible with dedication, discipline, and self-love to strongly believes that you are capable of achieving all the goals you have.
The way we all can grow and get there is by uplifting each other. Live, breathe, and share with love what you are passionate about. Never be afraid to embrace who you are! Shine bright there is plenty of space for everyone to light up the universe with their uniqueness.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Growing up in a residential (project) with not so many opportunities and negative dark paths.
Not having a place to train and learn dance and or martial arts.
No transportation and struggling to make it to some practices for shows just walking for one hour and a half.
People tried to block you from your dreams and tell you that “with that street style you not going anywhere, that to be professional you need to be in a dance academy.”
Going through a car accident complete change my life, not just physically but also mentally. If it wasn’t for my husband and the dance community in Puerto Rico, my life could be another by that time.
Also not, knowing how to speak and write English and overcoming that was great.
There are always daily challenges that we face, and we do our best to overcome them and that’s what life is about. To continue and learn from the obstacles to become the best version of yourself that you can be.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Professional Dancer, Martial Artist, Photographer, Model, DJ, Mentor, and Instructor. I run a Martial Arts, Dance, and Entertainment studio called One Take Studios in Sterling, VA.
We teach daily classes in dance and martial arts. We do camps, and dance competitions, and volunteer to help others in our community. I also do all the business work to make sure everyone is on a good track for their training.
I am very proud to live what I love, proud to be able to share this with others, and proud to see others grow and enjoy themselves with these art forms. Proud that I keep overcoming new obstacles each day and using that strength to help and inspire others to do the same and much more.
One of my strongest beliefs that sets me apart from others, is that I am always willing to help no matter what! We rise by lifting each other and we should never think in the mindset of holding back knowledge. I give all I can, and I try to always study my crafts to learn more and more and always strive to get better and bring those around me up at the same time.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
I have had the opportunity to be in Baltimore a few times mainly for dance events.
I experience the culture of dance specially Bmore Club. The city is also rich with historic sites, and I hear a lot that Baltimore is also known for its delicious seafood, and the Chesapeake Bay.
I would like to learn, experience, and see more about Baltimore.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.onetakestudiosva.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neverless.pr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NeverlessOfficialPage
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/neverless_pr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NeilahCarrilloNeverless
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/one-take-studios-sterling
- Other: https://direct.me/neverless
Image Credits
@officialsaraboyd, @keygatekeeper, @angelinamphoto, and @aliamirie.photography
