The Blackboard Spotlight: Chuck Maldonado (Part 2)

THE AWARD-WINNING TALENT SPEAKS ON HIS CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH THE LATE LISA “LEFT EYE” LOPEZ

From Ne-Yo to Chris Brown, Chuck Maldonado has worked with some of music’s most popular artists.  His work can be seen in box office thrillers like Stomp the Yard and TV shows such as ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”  Chuck sits back on the hot seat to discuss his falls, struggles and rise to glory in the industry.

Background: Choreographer/ Dance Instructor

EMGWorld: For those who may not know exactly how did you get started in the industry?

CM: It's weird.  I use to be a high school teacher and had no clue I would be a dancer or choreographer.  I started an after school dance program for troubled kids.  From there we had these huge talent shows.  One particular night Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez from TLC came to watch the show.  Lisa was impressed with the choreography and wanted to know who choreographed the show.  I was introduced to her and we became friends.  For Lisa “Left Eye Lopez” to take notice of my talent was the beginning of when I realized "maybe I have something here." 

EMGWorld: You never went through the process of dance class?

CM: Not until later after I had spoken with Lisa.  As a high school teacher I had auditioned for the Atlanta Hawks in '97 during the first year they decided to have male dancers [not cheerleaders].  Out of 450 male dancers that had been training all their life, I never had any FORMAL training.  Out of those 450 male dancers, I was one of the three who made it.  

EMGWorld: What was going through your head when you were picked out of all those formally trained dancers?

CM: I said to myself, “this might be my calling.”  This is not a coincidence because I don't believe in coincidences.  I knew I had something.  At that point that's when I started training.  Our team choreographer, Jimmy Lopez, put me through training.  That's when I started training hard.  

EMGWorld: You never had the intent of saying I'm going to take dance classes and eventually I'll teach dance?

CM: Never.  I went to college [North Carolina A&T] and earned my degree.  I started working for American Express as a marketing manager and didn't like it.  I didn’t like “CORPORATE AMERICA” so I went back to school at Georgia State.  After getting my certification in education, I began teaching high school for the Dekalb County School District in Atlanta.  I did teaching and thought that would be it for me.

“She helped me change the way I thought so I could start manifesting things into my life that normal people don't get until they change the way they think, speak and act.” – Chuck Maldonado, on Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez, Blackboard Spotlight

EMGWorld: How did you go about making that decision to follow your heart and pursue dance?

CM: I was teaching and going back and forth doing dance jobs.  There were times I'd have to be out of town and times that I was too tired to teach.  That's when I went to Lisa [Lopez].  She said, “Just quit your job as a teacher.  I promise I'm going to make this happen for you.  You're going to be successful.  You're going to be a dancer.  You will fulfill your dreams.”  I stepped out on faith and told the school principal the next day I was going to pursue a different career.  They totally understand because I was already missing alot of work days anyway.  They knew where my heart was.

EMGWorld: When you started out did you ever come to a point in your career where making a living in the industry seemed unattainable?

CM: In the very beginning it was tough.  I couldn't pay my car note or my rent.  I didn't know what to tell my parents because they already questioned my decision.  I didn't have any more of my savings left.   That was a really hard time.  

EMGWorld: How did you ultimately overcome those tough times?

CM: After four or five months, I went to Lisa and told her my funds had depleted from what I saved up as a teacher.  I don't know what else to do because I can't go back to teaching.  Lisa said “I'm going to pay your rent, car note and everything that you need to get paid so you can concentrate on what you were meant to be.”  Every month she wrote me a check for all of my bills.  I would pay my bills and continue to train hard.  

EMGWorld: When did you finally get that opportunity to work as a ‘full-time’ dancer?

CM: My first opportunity was with her [Lisa “Left Eye” Lopez] first group Blaque.  I choreographed her group, danced background and home schooled one of the girls because she was under 18.   On tour, I was a teacher, choreographer and dancer.  I went from having ONE job, to NO job, to THREE jobs making six figures!  Lisa made sure I got all those jobs, which is unheard of.  That's a big deal for someone like that to do that for me because she didn't have to.  Lisa believed in me more than I believed in myself at that time.  

EMGWorld: Would you say Lisa Lopez has been the most influential person in your career?

CM: Lisa is definitely by far the most influential.  She started my career and had so much faith in me that she paid my bills.  She was my cheerleader.  She helped me change the way I thought so I could start manifesting things into my life that normal people don't get until they change the way they think, speak and act.

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“I always knew the importance of knowing there's something greater than myself and that's God.  Knowing that always kept me on the right path.”  – Chuck Maldonado, Blackboard Spotlight

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EMGWorld: When did you know you had officially ‘arrived’ as a dancer?

CM: The first time I felt I had arrived as a dancer was in 2001 when I had auditioned for Missy Elliot’s music video for “Get Your Freak On.”  They only picked 10 guys and 10 girls out of hundreds of people who were there.  I was one of the people selected to dance in the video.  Hi Hat was the choreographer.  She had never seen me before because I was still so new to LA, but she hired me.  That’s when I knew I was at the right place at the right time occupying the right space.  That’s when I knew this was it.  I literally was in tears when I booked it.  Lisa was still alive at that time.

EMGWorld: What was going through your mind when Lisa Lopez passed away?

CM: At first I didn't believe it when she had died because she was always doing crazy stuff.  She left tour once because she got so upset and went to Honduras.  People thought she might have been dead at that time.  When she died I couldn't believe it because I thought she was somewhere else.  Then her brother Ron and sister Raina called me and confirmed it was true.  

EMGWorld: Just how close to home did the news of her passing hit you?

CM: I use to call her 'Mama Lopez' because she was like a mom to me.  What hurt me even more at that time was that I was on tour with Tamia after just moving to LA.  Jobs were not coming as fast and I couldn't leave the tour to go to her funeral.  I never got to go to her funeral and to this day I still beat myself up about it.  I think Lisa would've definitely understood.    

EMGWorld: Would you say you’ve made sacrifices out of your love for dance?

CM: For me to leave my family was the biggest sacrifice I've made.  Family is so important to me.  I grew up in New Jersey.  I'm really close to my mom, my dad and my brother. 

EMGWorld: What advice would you give to artists and performers who want to work in entertainment?

CM: What worked for me was always keeping myself focused on the prize and never let anything get in the way.  If this is what you want to do don't let anybody tell you that you CAN’T.  I've never been involved in drugs.  I've never been drunk or smoked.  I always knew the importance of knowing there's something greater than myself and that's God.  Knowing that always kept me on the right path.  

EMGWorld: What advice do you have for those dancers out there who danced their soul out and failed to book the job?

CM: Dancers do not get upset and take it personal.  Don't feel like you're life has gone down the drain when you don't get the job.  You're auditioning not for that job, but you're auditioning for that choreographer or director.  Those people work all the time and they consistently have jobs.  You just didn't fit this particular one.  You may have not been good for that job, but you never know if they'll call you and say "hey I have another job you're perfect for."  

Stay tuned for Part 3 of our interview series as Chuck Maldonado speaks on the importance of training and effective ways to network within the industry…

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