Isabella Rivera is a current Performance Studies B.A. candidate, doubling minoring in Creative Writing (CAS) and Child & Adolescent Mental Health Studies (CAS).  She grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii till the age of ten and made the great migration to New York City with her family. Growing up in the city has shaped who she is today and fanned the flame of her love for music, theater, and the arts. Throughout high school, she was a part of Amas Musical Theatre Academy, founded by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire. She felt at home here because of its "love for non-traditional, multi-ethnic production, education and casting." Some of her off-Broadway productions include, Seussical (ensemble), Hello Dolly (ensemble/swing), NinetoFive: The Musical (Maria Delgado), Fame: The Musical (Mabel Washington/dancer), and Urinetown: The Musical (Hope Caldwell).

She also spends time writing music, exploring the sounds of the city, and free writing poems and short stories. While performance has always been her passion, Isabella finds interest in melding together the science of human behaviors and interactions, with art, music, and writing. She continues to find new platforms to sing, perform, write, and share her passion for the arts. Isabella is also involved in Every Nation Campus Ministry, a Christian club at NYU, and enjoys meeting new students and sharing experiences. Her faith, craft, and family are what inspire her to remain driven, curious, and excited for her future endeavors.  Trading the Hawaiian, ocean breezes for four seasons has been worth it and Isabella is honored to be a part of the Performance Studies community at NYU.

WHY PS @ NYU?

I chose Performance Studies because of the access to look at performance and arts as more than a spectacle, but rather a way of living and moving through the spaces of our world. Performance breaks the fourth wall and runs rampant through the streets of New York City. Through Performance Studies, the magnitude of performance in the world was revealed to me and from then on I was hooked. From looking at performance through word structure and  scientific theories, Performance Studies has equipped me with different perspectives on how to analyze and interact with artistic, theoretical, and scientific texts that exceed surface knowledge. This was the major I had been searching for in high school and I feel grateful for the opportunity to absorb and interact with texts in the manner that Performance Studies encourages each one of us to take part in.