Actress and Performer, currently dancing on Broadway, and one of my very best friends.
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Interview with Sarita Colon Actress and Performer

A Lifelong Dance: Growing Up and Dreaming Big with Sarita 

From the moment we met in fifth grade at our local dance studio, Sarita and I have shared a rhythm that’s carried us through every stage of life. Two little girls in leotards who loved to move — not realizing dance would become the heartbeat of our friendship. 

From rehearsals and road trips to rival schools, college life, and our big move to New York City, we’ve grown side by side, cheering each other on through every creative chapter. While her journey stayed rooted in dance and mine evolved into design, our shared passion and determination have always kept us in sync. 

Watching Sarita fulfill her dream of performing on Broadway in Death Becomes Her was one of those full-circle moments that reminded me why we never stop believing in our passions. 

We’ve experienced nearly every “first” together — first loves, heartbreaks. She was there when my dad became sick and passed, and I stood by her when she found her forever love and got married. Through it all, our friendship has been the steady rhythm behind our lives. 

Even now, Sarita continues to inspire me. Her courage, discipline, and artistry remind me to keep dancing through life — in my own way. Some friendships are fleeting, but others feel like art — evolving, timeless, and beautifully unfinished. Ours is one I’ll cherish forever.

Early Beginnings 

Do you remember the first time we met in dance class? What stands out to you about those early years?

I remember there wasn’t much diversity in Midland, especially at the dance studio. There were very few minority families, so when the Parmele family came in, and then I saw you walk in with your mom, I genuinely felt like, “Oh my God, you’re my people!” That sense of connection was something I hadn’t really experienced outside of my own family. There just weren’t many minorities in Midland at all.

What made you fall in love with dance as a kid?

My sisters, Sabrina and Soli, started dancing before me. I was about six or seven when I joined, and my first class was jazz. I didn’t start with ballet—I went straight into jazz, being all sassy. Later, I got into ballet, but at the time, my parents could only afford one class for each of us, and I chose jazz because it was pop music, and it was upbeat, sassy, and just had this great vibe. 

As for what made me fall in love with dance, I knew I wasn't going to do sports; nothing attracted me to playing sports or cheerleading. But once I started dancing, it was just fun! Through dance, I met friends like you, Jessie, and so many others. It became this place where I could go after school to hang out, laugh, and just have a good time. It was our little keekee time—full of friendship, movement, and joy. Dance was also a form of self-expression for me. It was a way to release energy, be silly, and express who I was at that age.

Who or what inspired you most during our dance studio days?

Seeing my sister dancing at the VMA Awards was a huge moment. I was so happy for her and thought that was so cool. Music videos on MTV — like Janet (Jackson), of course, Michael (Jackson), and even earlier, Paula Abdul... I loved the pop culture of dance. Even watching singers like Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston — these women who could sing but also get on stage and put on a performance — all these sick performers made me feel like, “Oh my God, I want to do that.” Just watching people and thinking to myself, Can I do that? and being in awe. 

I also remember watching West Side Story with my mom, because my mom was obsessed. Rita Moreno was such an icon! There were a lot of Spanish influences in my house when it came to performing and stuff like that — we were always performing because my dad had Spanish music playing all the time.

Growing Up Together 

We practically lived at the studio — what’s one of your favorite or funniest memories from those days?

I joined company so young. (The competitive dance group at our childhood dance studio.) Once my sister and the other dancers in her age group graduated, it was us — this new group of dancers. I remember when we’d go to competitions, being silly in our hotel rooms, having fun dancing down the hallways, and taking classes at conventions, excited to learn new routines. I also remember feeling nervous before stepping on stage during competitions. There are so many fun memories from those competitive dance days while we were in company.

How do you think our friendship has shaped you over the years?

Oh my God, well… I think both of us growing up in a city like Midland — a place that isn’t very diverse in general — shaped us differently because there weren’t many people who looked like us. In a way, we understood each other in that sense and relied on each other. We just had a lot in common, even though we went to rival schools... when we came together at the dance studio, it felt like we shared the same experiences. 

We had a lot of mutual friends, and our families knew each other very well. With traveling, if your mom chaperoned us during competition days, we’d stay very close, and vice versa. If my mom was there when yours wasn’t, it was always about taking care of each other. It really was like a family. We watched out for each other, and I’ve experienced most of my biggest life events with you.

We went through so many milestones together — proms, driver’s training, moving to NYC — what stands out as a defining moment for our friendship?

Learning how to drive together, graduating, moving out of Midland, and getting into the same college… it’s hard to define just one moment. There are so many, at different points in our lives, that have been so special — always being there for each other in that way. Family life and the struggles that sometimes come with it, the ups and downs of being teenagers, our first boyfriends (and all the boyfriends over the years!), going to auditions together for the dance program at Wayne State — your mom and dad driving us, both of us having to do our solos and being so nervous — and then getting accepted into the program together. We were roommates in the dorms, I taught you how to do laundry, and then eventually we moved into our own apartment together. You were there at my wedding… I mean, so many memories.

The Artist’s Journey 

You’ve achieved something incredible — dancing on Broadway! When did that dream first feel real to you?

We came to New York to visit family, and my first Broadway show was Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk with Savion Glover. I just remember loving live theater — I thought it was so cool. I remember my mom giving me the soundtrack to Chicago, and when Soli lived in New York, we went to see Chicago. I knew every song. The musical was everything — so iconic. I loved it. I love performing, singing, and dancing. 

I also think performing live during competitions or at our recitals made me realize how much I loved the feeling of being on stage. Whether it was performing, doing tech rehearsals, or even sitting in the audience and taking it all in — I loved every part of it. That’s when I knew this is what I wanted to do.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way?

Oh my God, I could write a book. I don’t regret anything because my path was meant to be, but I do wish — specifically in college — that I had taken a musical theater class or something that would have pushed me further and given me more knowledge about what was to come. When I moved to New York, I don’t think I set myself up for success because I didn’t really know what I needed to do. For example — headshots, my résumé, what to bring to auditions — I just wasn’t prepared.

I wish I had taken singing lessons or had a mentor, someone to help push and guide me. But that wasn’t the case, so I literally learned everything from the ground up. I networked, put myself out there — it was weird, it was scary — taking endless classes, working odd jobs, staying with my sister, traveling an hour into the city. I’ve slept on floors and people’s couches just to go to auditions, just to find a job, just to be in New York. It was a hustle. But that’s the thing — you have to keep going. It can be very discouraging at times, but you have to stay in it. It took me ten years to get to this point, but I didn’t give up.

There were obviously moments of doubt — Is this for me? Am I meant to do this? So I started to shift my focus. I thought maybe I shouldn’t concentrate so much on Broadway and instead focus on gigging, getting to know choreographers, and auditioning for other opportunities — more commercial work and acting classes. I learned a lot by watching and observing, seeing how things worked and what I needed to have prepared. I’d ask girls at auditions questions and listen to conversations, and I started to think about getting an agent.

I remember being at this huge cattle call with hundreds of girls, auditioning for an agent — and I booked one! But at the time, I wasn’t in the union. You have to be a part of the union to be considered for a Broadway show. So I’d wake up at 6 a.m. to go early for auditions that had hundreds of girls on a list, waiting in line literally all day, sometimes never even being seen because they ran out of time. That experience gave me the knowledge I needed to get my Equity card, which I eventually got. Having the Equity card meant I could be seen without waiting in those long lines.

But then new thoughts would creep in — Am I prepared? Do I have the right song? —Then I started to wonder about taking music lessons, but I knew I couldn’t afford them. So I started teaching myself online how to sing. It was just stack after stack after stack of challenges. I learned that dance alone wasn’t enough — there were so many other things I needed to do — and every step was a learning experience. I really wish I’d had a mentor.

What was the turning point in your career — that moment when things really started to open up for you professionally?

After getting my agent and getting to know Sarah O’Gleby, the resident choreographer for everything NBC, things really started to take off. She needed dancers for an SNL gig, and after that, she started booking me for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and more SNL performances. That opened up a whole different world for me.

At that point, I was like, “Okay, Broadway… whatever, I’ll get there eventually.” I was having so much fun with these gigs — being on TV was a dream in itself. America’s Got Talent and all of these experiences were just so cool, and I’d be so excited every time. The hustle didn’t stop — and it still hasn’t. 

Sarah is such an inspiration. I truly admire her positive energy, and I love her so much.

As artists, we both know rejection and self-doubt can be tough. How did you push through those moments?

Before making it on Broadway, I was at a point where I knew I really needed to make a decision. Being in my 30s, married, and my husband and I were living in two different cities — he had to be in Miami for work, and I needed to be in New York. There were so many things I had to sacrifice during this journey for this dream. Part of the journey isn’t just about the hustle; it’s also about the things you give up along the way — investing in yourself while facing rejection, missing events, trying to be there for your friends, and staying present in a marriage. It’s hard because you’re chasing this dream, but at the same time, you still have to buy groceries, live your life, try to balance everything and just survive.

I was a struggling artist, trying to figure out how to balance it all. New York City is expensive, so a lot of artists end up waiting tables or working jobs they really don’t like — I’ve done that too. I got to a point where I knew I couldn’t keep living like that, making so many sacrifices for a dream I wasn’t sure would ever happen. I had this realization that maybe it was time to move on, to start a new chapter, and to accept that Broadway just might not be in the cards for me.

Then I read this book — Signs: The Secret Language of the Universe by Laura Lynne Jackson — and shortly after, Broadway happened. It was literally at the moment I felt like I was giving up. I’m so glad I didn’t.

What advice would you give to young dancers chasing similar dreams?

Just keep going. There will be struggles along the way, but you really have to believe in yourself. It can be hard — and honestly, it’s still hard for me at times — but you have to trust that you can do it. Invest in yourself, manifest your dreams, and be prepared. If you put in the hard work, it will happen. I have this vision book — kind of like a vision board, but in book form — and in it, I wrote that I wanted to be part of an original Broadway cast, in an original Broadway show. And that’s exactly what happened. I visualized myself in that space, and it came true.

Creative Growth & Connection 

How has your relationship with dance evolved over the years?

I grow stronger as a dancer year by year, but I also think it’s about being consistent — continuing to train, strengthening my body, focusing on my health, and never stopping being a student. Dance is a big part of my life, but I equally love everything else that comes with it, in my show — the singing, the acting, the performance of it all. 

There’s so much more I have to be aware of besides just dancing and hitting a step. I have to apply everything I’ve ever learned while telling a story to the audience through my body — all while singing, acting, and dancing. (Laughing:) Also, while in different costumes, wearing heels, and trying to keep my wig on!

What role does creativity play in your life beyond dance?

Oh my God, being creative is my life — it’s so much of what I know. I grew up in a creative space. My mom loves arts and crafts and was always so creative whenever she baked. My sisters are all creative in their own ways, too.

For me, besides performing and dancing, I find creativity in style, fashion, and how I present myself to the world through what I wear — and also in interior design. I love to explore, observe, and be around other creatives because creatives are expressive, and I just have to be around people like that.

Even though our paths diverged — mine toward design, yours toward dance — where do you see overlap in how we both express art?

You express it through your drawings — the way you move your art through what you draw and paint. Whatever tools or canvas you use, you’re always expressing movement within your art in that way, whereas I’m doing it with my whole body. We’re both expressing things that are inside of us — things that inspire us. When I see your art on textiles and fabrics, I can imagine it on a costume or even as part of a stage design. It’s endless — the options are endless.

Reflection 

Looking back, what does it mean to you to have grown up with a friend who understands the artist’s journey so closely?

You’re family — you’re like a sister to me — and the fact that I can relate to you in so many ways means so much. We lived in New York City together, so we understood the daily grind. Cheering each other on, having each other’s backs — that kind of support is so important. Having someone in your corner who’s constantly cheering you on, telling you to keep going, and believing in you — it’s everything. You inspire me because you’re not giving up on your dreams. It’s beautiful to see you lock in and make them happen — you’re so talented. Creative people get creative people. We understand each other. We understand mentally what it takes, and this support system has truly helped me along the way.

What’s next for you, and what are you most excited about right now?

I still feel in my heart that I have so much more to give. I would love to do another Broadway show — maybe just one more. And because I love being on TV, I’d like to start doing more with film. I want to be upfront — to take on lead roles and be featured in things that really challenge me. I know I still have a lot to learn and train for, but I feel ready.

I’d also love to explore brand deals or more modeling opportunities — who knows? I’m open to anything and everything, but not just as part of an ensemble. I want to be seen in a lead role. I know I have so much more to offer, and I just want to keep doing things that push me forward. Honestly, I feel better than I did in my 20s — I feel empowered, motivated, and ready to keep going and keep succeeding.