A Chat w/ Dynamically-Disabled Dancer Makenzie Morgan Gomez

Plus measurement. Queer. Completely magical. There are such a lot of phrases to explain dynamically-disabled dancer Makenzie Morgan Gomez. Nonetheless, at her core, she’s an artist who pushes previous the cruel streaks of life’s canvas and paints a narrative with each praise-worthy efficiency.

The multi-gifted entertainer grew to become a power to be reckoned with on the ground in her adolescence, creating a love for the brilliant lights, pink curtains, and centerstage. From dance lessons to highschool performs, Gomez couldn’t escape her infatuation with microphones and motion, honing an simple ability that has catapulted the singer-actress into the theatrical powerhouse she is immediately. Hailing from the Golden State, this Mexican-American trailblazer has professionally displayed her skills earlier than audiences for over a decade.

After years of coaching and exercising her God-given craft(s), it was in 2020 that what Gomez had grown to take action effortlessly started to look rather a lot totally different for her. A sudden battle with autoimmune points seemingly triggered numerous bodily impairments, leaving the illustrious performer to query what her future within the arts would maintain. For so long as she might keep in mind, dancing had been her approach of connection and expression. With an onset of persistent ache and being practically robbed of the power to stroll, the Californian was devasted and depleted however nonetheless decided sufficient to adapt to her new regular.

What many would see as an impediment, Gomez noticed it as a chance to beat. Making the brave choice to not be restrained by her present scenario, the 32-year-old used her medical diagnoses for the larger good, morphing into the voice and the visible of a modern-day superwoman on the performing entrance. From there, Gomez’s rising affect expanded past her wildest creativeness.

In 2024, she discovered herself within the highlight of her Off-Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s I Should Be in Photos, the place she delivered an impressive act as ‘Libby.’ Together with that fantastic achievement, later that 12 months, Gomez produced an empowering, six-minute reinterpretation of Music and the Mirror from Marvin Hamlisch and Ed Kleban’s musical, A Refrain Line. The riveting section, titled Music and the Mirror (& Mobility Aids), featured Gomez using her mobility aids as she gracefully showcased an emotion-filled, choreographic portrayal.

Iconic in her personal proper, Gomez continues hustling by way of the harm, dwelling life within the intersections (as she says), and charming the group… one motivational masterpiece at a time.

We just lately spoke with this beautiful woman to debate how she’s turned the stereotypes and stigmas surrounding incapacity into full-blown dopeness. Test it out beneath!

Plus Measurement Performer Makenzie Morgan Gomez Talks Persisting in Her Function, Proudly owning Her Uniqueness, & Reshaping the Narrative for Disabled Of us in Theater

TCF: So, let’s take it again to the very starting. The place have been you born and raised?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: I used to be born in San Diego, California however raised in San Pedro. So, the South Bay… simply outdoors of Los Angeles.

TCF: How would you say rising up there formed you into who you might be immediately? 

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: My dad and mom at all times inspired [me] to pursue what [I] had a ardour in and to seek out one thing that [I was] enthusiastic about. Grades have been vital, but it surely was simply as vital to seek out one thing you like to do. So, I used to be very fortunate to have that upbringing as a result of as soon as I did discover dance and performing, I used to be so hooked, and I by no means needed to combat my dad and mom to let me do one other present or be part of one other dance workforce so long as I stored my grades up. You realize, we had sure agreements, however they by no means stated “no.” There was at all times, “Let’s discover a technique to make it occur for you.”

I believe that mentality actually formed loads of how I’ve gone by way of my life as an grownup, t00. I at all times wish to discover a technique to do what I like to do. And there’s at all times going to be this balancing act. In childhood, it was getting good grades, and in maturity, it’s paying the payments! [laughs]

TCF: Proper! [laughs] Have you ever at all times had a ardour for the performing arts? In that case, at what age would you say you realized this was one thing you needed to pursue?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Yeah! I began taking dance class once I was eight and I appreciated it rather a lot, but it surely was center college that I used to be like, “Oh, I wish to do that for the remainder of my life.” That was extra so like seventh [or] eighth grade. I began to get forged in lead roles in my center college’s musicals. [It was] at that time once I was like, “Oh, yeah, I’m going to discover a approach to do that as an grownup.”

TCF: So, you’ve been doing this a very long time!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Positive have! [I turned] thirty-two in January! [laughs] It’s been, no less than, twenty years.

TCF: That’s such a blessing!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Sure!

TCF: One of many issues I love about your story is that you just unapologetically stand in your entire truths… it doesn’t matter what which will seem like. Not solely being plus measurement and dynamically disabled but additionally queer. I really feel like, whereas there are much more liberating areas for the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood immediately than there was once, many nonetheless carry these traumatic experiences from not being accepted. 

So, how would you recall your coming-out story? Had been you at all times as free and open about your sexuality as you are actually or is that one thing you struggled with since an early age?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: That’s one thing I’ve struggled with since an early age. I didn’t come out till I used to be twenty-six years previous. I believe really popping out as queer and eventually claiming that identification is what propelled me into claiming all of my different identities with simply as a lot loudness, I assume. One of many downsides of pursuing theater, or any sort of performing arts, is questioning do we’ve got to be this cookie-cutter model of one thing. Do we’ve got to seem like a Rockette? I like the Rockettes, to be clear, [laughs], however they’ve a really particular look. I believe rising up in Theater and beginning to pursue it professionally made me query loads of items of myself and what I used to be prepared to indicate… together with my Mexican heritage. 

It’s one thing that I struggled with determining easy methods to navigate these identities and audition for roles. After I got here out as queer, I felt so liberated from lastly proudly owning that, that I began to judge different areas of my life the place I might personal items of myself that I’ve perhaps tried to suppress.

TCF: And I’m certain entertaining has been a really expressive outlet for you and offered a way of freedom. Do you keep in mind your first large break and what it felt like? Like, that second if you simply knew that performing was your future and also you have been precisely the place you have been referred to as to be? 

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Oh, gosh! Yeah! I’ve had a few these moments in my life. As a baby, it was my eighth-grade musical once I acquired the lead function. That was like the primary second–at fourteen years previous–the place I used to be like, “Okay, I’ve to determine a approach to do that!” After which… as I acquired older, [another moment was] once I was a senior in highschool auditioning for BFA musical theater packages. I really didn’t get into any of the audition-based packages I went out for. I had this second the place I needed to resolve as a senior in highschool, “Do I wish to pursue one thing else or do I wish to strive once more?” I made a decision to take a niche 12 months, prepare in LA, and audition once more. After I auditioned [for] the second 12 months, I acquired into my dream college.

TCF: Wow!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: So, that was one other second of like, “Okay, if I put within the work, I can do that.” After which there was one other second in school. I broke a part of my backbone as a junior in school.

TCF: Oh, goodness! No approach!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: In ballet class. I broke a part of my backbone. [laughs] I snigger as a result of it’s like probably the most wild story ever, but it surely’s at all times my enjoyable truth once I’m in a get-to-know-you circle. I unknowingly broke a part of my backbone and ended up in a again brace. The college, my docs, all people else have been mainly giving me this second of like, “Do you wish to proceed or is that this an indication to pursue one thing else?” And I used to be like, “No, that is an harm that may heal. I’m going to maintain going. I’m a 12 months away from graduating. Completely not.”

I healed in half the time it was presupposed to take, and I used to be again in dance in like 4 months. So, it was like one other second of the universe giving me this opportunity–or nonetheless you wish to put it, the universe, God, whoever–giving me this opportunity to pause and ask myself, “Do I actually wish to pursue this or is it going to be too exhausting?” As a result of if you pursue theater in New York Metropolis, there are such a lot of rejections, so many moments of, “Am I adequate?”

It’s a must to need it sufficient to remain. And that was a kind of moments for me of… “Do I need it sufficient?”

TCF: To see the place you might be immediately is so motivating!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Additionally, I didn’t begin going disabled till 2020. And so [that was] one other piece of… “Do I wish to preserve doing this? Is there house for me? Am I prepared to place within the work and declare my house and I can personal it? [How can I show] that I’m worthy of being right here when not lots of people seem like me?” Not lots of people are doing this but… as a disabled skilled performer. The primary audition season that I went again [in] exhausting–like went exhausting and auditioned once more… absolutely claiming my disabilities–I booked my off-Broadway debut. That was this previous 12 months, 2024.

TCF: That brings me to my subsequent query. May you allow us to in in your situations and the way the journey navigating by way of these disabilities has been for you since discovering out in 2020?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: It’s been a non-linear journey. I began creating autoimmune disorder-type signs in 2020 and issues simply continued to progress the place an increasing number of signs started to indicate themselves. I’ve a variety of diagnoses now, and we nonetheless don’t know the total story, however what I can say is thru the previous few years we’ve recognized a thyroid situation. I’ve Hashimoto’s illness, and that was one of many best issues to unravel as a result of there may be remedy for that and we’ve been monitoring it and it’s been below management.

That was the very first thing to kind of pop up and get found. Once we began to get that below management, there have been nonetheless so many different signs that wanted to be seemed into–the largest one being persistent ache. My leg will randomly go fully numb. There’s no correlation. It got here out of nowhere, or it felt prefer it got here out of nowhere. There was no correlation [between] me exercising or not exercising, sitting or standing, strolling or staying nonetheless. 

I used to be logging every thing that was occurring–all of my signs–and I couldn’t discover a correlation as to why this was occurring together with persistent ache and persistent fatigue and all types of issues. Alongside the best way, a rheumatologist was like, “Yeah, you don’t have arthritis, you don’t have this, you don’t have that. I don’t know, let’s simply say you will have fibromyalgia.” Whereas I do imagine that I in all probability have that, it’s not the total story; it doesn’t clarify loads of issues. The massive discovery that just lately occurred is my dad and mom have been cleansing out their storage and got here throughout previous medical recordsdata of mine from childhood. We began to recollect [that in] my childhood, I had persistent ache as, as a preschooler, and we by no means might determine why.

TCF: So, you doubtless had related points again then as properly?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Yeah! This previous rheumatologist from the nineties identified me with a hypermobility spectrum dysfunction.

TCF: Okay.

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Within the nineties, this wasn’t even a really generally identified factor. However, now, twenty-five years later, there are tons extra research popping out and articles and analysis on hypermobility. Whereas, sure, loads of the inhabitants is usually hypermobile and it may not be regarding in any approach, there are uncommon illnesses. There are individuals who fall below this uncommon illness class the place hypermobility is disabling. I nonetheless have to get examined for what is known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome or EDS for brief. There’s a grouping of 13 sorts of EDS, one being hypermobility. That is quite common for dancers to overlook as a result of we’re so celebrated for being versatile that you just don’t assume something of it till your physique makes you assume something of it. 

So, there’s one thing inside this hypermobility, whether or not it’s hypermobility spectrum dysfunction or a model of EDS, that may be very doubtless the primary prognosis for me that’s inflicting persistent ache which explains why I would like to make use of mobility aids now and all of that. I do know it’s a long-winded reply. Sorry! [laughs]

TCF: No! Hear, give all the small print! [laughs] With that stated, I can think about you went by way of a interval of self-doubt and felt like these new limitations would prohibit you from reserving jobs. What has helped you push previous these emotions and proceed propelling them into your goal?

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: On one hand, like all artist, there’s simply this deep inner want. It’s like a necessity for me to be an artist. I can’t escape it. I attempted doing one other profession. [laughs] I attempted to see if I might pursue different issues and perhaps be inventive on the aspect, however I’ve to be an artist. There’s this need. On prime of that, I’ve labored so exhausting, I’ve had a lot coaching, [and] I’ve overcome a lot already. It looks like my story isn’t over right here. I’m not prepared to go away New York. I’m not able to give up. I’m a member of the union. I do know that there’s one other approach. There’s this inner monologue, and I assume like a come-to-Jesus second for me. Like, “Am I going to do that or am I simply going to be depressing and at all times surprise what if?”

TCF: I like that.

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: So, once I lastly was prepared to deal with that, I acquired again into class with [my acting teacher]. I’ve an important performing trainer and profession mentor in New York Metropolis. I talked to her about it, and she or he was like, “Alright, let’s determine this out. Let’s determine what this implies for you and determine a approach that we’re going to current you. Like, what’s your plan of assault right here?” As a result of if I’m going into these audition rooms not sure, then casting will likely be not sure. I needed to discover a technique to be assured in what I used to be presenting. I did loads of work behind the scenes with my performing and profession coach earlier than I stepped foot into an audition room once more. 

TCF: Talking of auditions, might you inform us about reserving the off-Broadway debut for Neil Simon’s I Should Be in Photos? Stroll us by way of the day you bought the information that you just had gotten the function and what that have was like.

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Oh, my God! It was such an important day! I didn’t have any illustration. I didn’t have an agent but. So, I self-submitted on-line for every thing or simply confirmed as much as open calls. I had submitted for this function on Actors Entry. I didn’t must go in particular person, they requested me to do a self-tape. I filmed myself doing the monologues at house, despatched in a self-tape, and so they requested me for an additional spherical. So, I did one other spherical. In one of many callbacks, that was digital, they requested me to speak about my disabilities in no matter approach I’m snug and what it’s like navigating New York Metropolis with them. 

I did that, acquired the ultimate callback in particular person, and confirmed up at their theater. The thrilling factor about this specific off-Broadway firm is its mission to forged and combine disabled performers into exhibits that aren’t essentially written for disabled actors. Their entire mission is about this, which is so uncommon. And it’s like the one off-Broadway home that does this.

TCF: So, it was made for you!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: It was made for me… precisely! It felt so aligned. I didn’t have to fret about all of the issues I fear about at different auditions as a result of they already acquired it. You realize, they already understood. So, I went in particular person, I did my monologues for them, [and] they gave me some notes. The creative director was so good. He gave me a hug. I introduced my service canine in, and so they have been completely superb with that. It was such a simple expertise, and it was so enjoyable.

I left that callback, went house to Brooklyn, [and] a few of my associates came visiting. It was a stupendous time out. We have been sitting in [the] yard, simply hanging out with our canines. I acquired an electronic mail that very same day with a suggestion, which [isn’t] quite common! [laughs] It’s not normally [the] similar day! It was simply so thrilling. [My] pal ran out and acquired champagne. I referred to as my dad and mom. I needed to let all people know! It simply [felt] like a fever dream from then on. [laughs]

TCF: 2024 has undoubtedly been a 12 months of wins for you. There’s no approach I might undergo this interview with out mentioning your superb Music and the Mirror (& Mobility Aids) efficiency. So, speak to me about that. What was the inventive course of like placing that manufacturing collectively? I did watch it, and I used to be fully blown away. It virtually introduced me to tears. So inspirational!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Thanks a lot! I’m so glad you loved it! My off-Broadway debut was within the spring of 2024, and it was a straight play, so there was no singing or dancing in it. However dance is my old flame, if you’ll. Dance has at all times been like my roots of how I acquired into theater. I used to be so grateful to do a play, however I wish to do a musical. I actually wish to do a musical subsequent… if I can. I spotted by way of taking dance lessons in New York Metropolis and connecting with choreographers that lots of people simply don’t know what to anticipate once they see somebody come right into a dance house with mobility aids. 

Individuals are much more not sure once I say I’m dynamically disabled and I can use a spread of mobility aids, relying on the day. Individuals don’t know what which means. They might sort of perceive, however they don’t know what to ask, particularly in a dance setting. They don’t know what that appears like as a result of there’s not a blueprint. There’s not [anyone] else displaying this on this approach. Plenty of the disabled-dancer social media presence are wheelchair customers. So, folks don’t know what to search for but or what to anticipate or envision [with me]. I made a decision, “Alright, I’m coming off this off-Broadway present. I’ve the summer time off, [and] the present [is] closed. What am I going to do with my time?” I needed to create some sort of video idea piece that confirmed me utilizing all of my mobility aids in the entire ways in which I can. By means of that preliminary thought, Music and the Mirror got here to my thoughts as a result of a great pal of mine was in a manufacturing of A Refrain Line that summer time. 

I talked to her about it, [and] I talked to my performing coach about it. We got here up with this idea, and it was unimaginable how little I needed to change. All of it’s as written however was so relevant to my situation. The one phrase I added was “disabled” in entrance of “dancer.” All the pieces else is precisely as written.

TCF: You set a lot emotion into that efficiency. Amazingly completed!

Makenzie Morgan Gomez: Thanks a lot! The method of studying the unique choreography and adapting it with my pal, Cassidy was a lot enjoyable. I didn’t know I’d be taught the entire thing, however then I did. So, that was once I determined, “Alright, I would like to rent a videographer. I have to hire a extremely cool house and get actually good footage of this as a result of that is a lot larger than I even thought it may very well be.” The videographer that I selected… I had labored together with her as soon as earlier than, and she or he was so excited to make this imaginative and prescient come to life with me. She completely purchased into what I used to be making an attempt to do. She captured it fantastically. So, it was such an important, collaborative expertise, and I couldn’t have completed it with out all of the folks [who] helped make it occur.