VALARIE IOSUE

Wonder Woman with a passion for dancing & fashion

- Get the scoop on fashion, Get the scoop on fashion, see what’s in & what’s not. see what’ s in & what’s not. Are you in? Are you in?

F A A S S H H I I O O N N C C O O R R N N E E R R S EE WH AT’S

Valarie Iosue (“yo-sway”), 41, was born and raised in Philadelphia. She started dancing at the age of 2- she did tap, jazz, modern, and ballet. Ballet was the style of dance she decided to focus on for most of her childhood. The Philadelphia Children’s Ballet Academy was where she spent several years competing and performing in the Nutcracker. When she was a sophomore in high school, she stopped doing ballet and started kickboxing. After graduating high school in 1999, she lived on campus at Penn State University Berks Campus for her first year of college. Before starting her second year, her mother and brother moved to Colorado, and she decided to temporarily put school on hold. In 2011, she graduated with high honors from Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice. She started a family with her husband Mark in Collingswood, New Jersey and became a stay-at-home mom. Valarie is the mother of Jaiden (16), Natalia (16), Valentina (10) and Nadia (9). In 2018, Mark was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer. He passed away on April 25, 2019. On May 11, 2019, her friend Sarah passed away. The grief was overwhelming and exhausting. By September of 2019 Valarie knew she needed to start doing something that brought joy into her life. She knew even though it had been 21 years since she danced, she had to go back to ballet. Valarie asked her children’s ballroom teacher, Sandra Fortuna, if she would help her prepare for a Christmas showcase performance dedicated to Mark and Sarah. After the showcase, Valarie started teaching ballet at the studio, Universal Ballroom Dance Center.

FIn March of 2020, the unimaginable happeneda global pandemic. Although the dance studio was closed, Valarie still went to the studio and teach ballet, yoga, and fitness classes to the dancers on Zoom. In 2021, when her children went back to school after a year of being home for remote learning, Valarie was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. She danced throughout her cancer treatment. After finishing radiation Valarie started modeling. A few days after her last surgery she started a podcast called Dancing in the Rain with Valarie. I have fashion shows and dance performances scheduled throughout the year. Continues...on page 24

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I am working on a documentary about my life and filming could possibly start this year. I’m also working on a book and always recording episodes for my podcast.

In 2022, Valarie modeled, was a guest on several podcasts, continued working on her own podcast, was the cover story in Collingswood Magazine, was published in numerous fashion magazines, was a ballerina in a rap music video (“Zoe” the artist is Ovi Jozi), walked in several fashion shows including New York Fashion Week and Brooklyn Fashion Week, danced in the opening act for Cosmoda (cosplay runway), was interviewed at New York Comic Con as Wonder Woman, competed in Miss Fashion Global (placed 3rd in her category) and was a main character in a reality tv show pilot about the pageant. Valarie has a lot of exciting projects she’s working on this year. She also continuously spreads awareness about esophageal cancer, breast cancer, sexual assault, and the importance of being CPR certified.

RED INK Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing Valarie Iosue. This is what she told us.

REDINK: Dancing since age 2, tell us what dancing truly means to you.

VI: I started dancing when I was two years old because my grandmother was a dancer and she encouraged me to dance. I grew up watching her perform in shows and we would always dance together at her house. Dancing always made me feel happy and free. I did several types of dance as a kid but I decided to focus on ballet. Ballet is how my soul expresses itself. It’s not just something I like to do, it’s what I need to do. It’s an extremely important part of my life on many levels.

REDINK: How does dancing help you cope with tragedy that you have faced in your life?

VI: I stopped doing ballet in high school and did not do it at all for over 20 years! I missed it and always thought about going back, but as a mom of 4 kids, I thought my dancing days were just a memory. Even though I have always been an active person (yoga, kickboxing, rock climbing), I never thought I would do ballet again. After losing my husband and friend in 2019, I knew I had to find something that made my soul happy. I felt like the grief was trapped in my body and the only way to process it and release it was to dance. In September of 2019, I started ballet again (en pointe)! As soon as I started, I felt like I found a part of me that had been missing. On December 11, 2019 my grandmother passed away from dementia. I danced in a Christmas showcase a few days after she passed. I felt very connected to her during that performance In January of 2020, I started teaching ballet which was an honor and such a blessing. When the pandemic started in March of 2020, the schools and dance studios were closed. I still went to the studio and taught ballet to the dancers on Zoom. Having ballet back in my life definitely helped me get through the pandemic. In March of 2021, when life seemed like it was slowly going back to normal, I was diagnosed with stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma (breast cancer). I already knew dance would help me physically, mentally, and emotionally get through it. I had a double mastectomy with reconstruction, 24 radiation treatments, had my tubes and ovaries removed, and now I’m taking an estro gen blocking medication for the next 9 years. A few days after my first surgery, I was dancing at a party at the studio. I had drains on both sides of my body so I wore a big sweatshirt. I felt amazing during radiation and after the second surgery. Throughout my breast cancer treatment, I never stopped dancing. Ballet helps me process trauma and brings me joy at the same time. Tragic events are inevitable but I know dance will always keep me going. The name of my website and podcast (Dancing in the Rain with Valarie) are based on my favorite quote. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” (Vivian Greene)

REDINK: What message do you give to the youths of today?

VI: I have two 16 year olds, a 10 year old, and a 9 year old. I teach them the importance of being their authentic selves. My message to youths today is to never compare yourself to anyone. Especially in today’s world with social media constantly showing pictures and videos that portray people as being perfect. Own your individuality, be yourself! Don’t try to fit in! Have your own unique style! You will attract people into your life that appreciate you for who you truly are, not someone you are pretending to be.

More importantly, learn to be unaffected by what people think about you. I didn’t truly grasp this concept until I was an adult, so I talk to my kids about it a lot. Not everyone will like you and that’s ok. As long as you are true to yourself that’s all that matters.

REDINK: Tell us what you are working on at this time.

VI: I am extremely excited for 2023! I have already done several amazing photo shoots this year and I can’t wait to do more. I have fashion shows and dance performances scheduled throughout the year. I am working on a documentary about my life and filming could possibly start this year. I’m also working on a book and always recording episodes for my podcast. My goal is to have as many people as possible hear my story. After someone hears my story, they know that not only can they survive trauma, but thrive!

REDINK: Where do you see yourself in 5 years.

VI: I see myself traveling and doing speaking tours, acting, modeling and dancing.

REDINK: What can we expect from you next.

VI: Expect everything! A book, a documentary, creative photos and choreography… I’m just getting started so stay tuned…

This concludes our interview with Valarie. Support this talanted & exceptional Dancer/model Check out her social media websites.

Instagram- Valarie_ballerina429

Facebook -Valarie Iosue

Website: DancingintheRainwithValarie.com

Dancing in the Rain with Valarie podcast is on most platforms

Ballerina overcoming many tragedies

Special thank you to Natasha Berezhnaya for costume design @berezhnayanatasha https://www.facebook.com/Costume-Design-by-NatashaBerezhnaya-120689951295190/

Theatrical SHOWS by Natasha Berezhnaya https://www.facebook.com/Natasha-Berezhnaya555790858124646

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2 oz. INDOGGO™ Gin

3Muddled Strawberries

3/4 oz. Lemon

1/2 oz. Simple Syrup

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