Model & Dancer: Ava Cota

I have been dancing since I was two, and I started at a studio in Michigan. Then, when I was three, my mom opened her own studio in Michigan. Then, when I was 3, my mom opened her own studio and I’ve been dancing there ever since. I only just recently moved out here to LA.

I grew up in the competition circuit. Then, when I was 10, I was on Dance Moms. Working in the industry changes your perspective so much about how everything works. Especially coming to LA, living here, and taking classes. I’ve gained a huge amount of respect for the artistry side of dance and not just the competition end of it. It’s really opened my eyes.

I also model, act, and sing. I love to write music and it has really helped me with my singing and finding new music to listen and dance to. Other than that I love to shop, swim, and hang out with my little puppy.

I think one of my favorite solos was done by DJ Smart. I was a detective and I had on this huge trend coat that my mom had made for me. It had really cool fabric that I could whip around. The performance was something so different and I found that a lot of the judges really appreciated that. Also, it brought my acting into it; there was a whole storyline.

Honestly I juggle it all because I just love every single one of my passions so incredibly much. I love singing, dancing, acting, modeling, and working hard. Being around people who have the same passion and ambitions really keeps me motivated. It’s a balance though. I also love to just sit on my couch and watch Netflix and cuddle up with my dog. I do fun things too and have sleepovers with my friends. The love of what I do is what gets me up in the morning and gets me to classes.

Again, just loving what you are doing. I think people get off track because of what people say they should be doing or other people’s view of them. They think they should change themselves and be somebody else. Being yourself and sticking to what you feel is right and what you love is key. Make it all about you.

I used to have a lot of nerves when I was younger and recently I’ve had a lot of LIFE going on. I felt like I was holding it all in because I wanted to be strong. One day, I went into my mom’s studio, shut all the lights off, turned the music on, and started improvising. I was jsut bawling because I was really able to get it all out. It felt so good having creative liberty to move and just let it all go. I don’t think people understand. We go up on stage, we dandce, and we smile, byt no one knows what we feel behind closed doors or the hard work it takes.

The hardest thing for me is that I’m super tall and I look a lot older than I am. In the dance world, a lot of people in general are shorter and they look a lot younger, so it’s a hard thing. I would go to auditions that were for my age group and I would hear that I was great and if they were casting for 18 and over then I would get it. It’s happened so many times to me. I would basically hear, “Nope you are not right for this because it is for kids your age… but you are not your age.” It has been a hard thing to get over. I have always been the type of person that, if something is wrong, I try to fix it and work really hard at it. My heaight is something I can’t fix. That’s been hard for me to understand. My mom helped me a lot in getting through it and has told me that when I don’t get a role, it’s because there is something out there better. Walking into the modeling industry and looking at people who are taller than me is great!

It’s insane. I grew up watching my mom model and do runway and now I just signed with an agency. I’ve been working runway like crazy. Seeing more of the clothing and design side of things has made me appreciate the industry so much more. Being in the fashion world has shown me the artistry side of fashion. People are different but they are a lot more serious. A lot of them scare me, lol. It’s totally different but amazing.

Oh, that’s so hard! Honestly when I watched Diana Pombo’s solo on NBC’s World of Dance I was so inspired by her. The emotion that she put into it, her artistry, and at her age, the maturity that she dances with is absolutely amazing. Another person I’ve always looked up to is Allison Holker: I absolutely love her. I’ve gotten to know her on a more personal level. She is an amazing human. I think she was one of the first dancers where I watched her and started crying. Someone who can do that really has a gift. It is not teachable, it is from the heart.

Okay so here’s the thing that I just realized since I’ve been here (at the Showstopper Magazine photoshoot in Anaheim, CA), I’ve never been to Disneyland! Coming from the Midwest, we always went to Disney World. Where I live now, I am 5 minutes from Universal Studios so I’ve been there. But I have never been to Disneyland! I want to take some of my friends and just spend the day having fun with them being princesses!

Well it depends on the genre. If it’s hip hop, I’d probably do leggings, a baggy t-shirt, something tied around my waist, and my Nikes (because I always wear Nikes). If I am going to a lyrical class it would probably be leggings, a crop top, and a sports bra.

So many people in your lifetime will tell you that you can’t do something or you are not good enough. If there is something in your heart that you truly want to do, then do it no matter what. Settling for something else will not make you happy. The best thing in life is just to be happy.

I am a total foodie. I love every single kind of food but my favorite food is sushi. I absolutely love to cook, too. I love the Food Channel so much. Before I went on SYTYCD, people would attach me, saying I had an eating disorder. If they actually knew me, though, they’d know that I eat crazy amounts of food! My mom wanted me to go on the show Chopped but cooking is the only thing I don’t compete with. I would like to keep that as my source of joy, a creative outlet. My new thing is healthy deserts. I recently made these healthy cheesecakes and also found this mug cake banana bread recipe. It’s all vegan and actually really good for you. Making super healthy things taste really good is my thing.