EP25: DANCE with Bridgette Borzillo, Artistic Director of CaZo Dance and Former D1 Softball Player
If you’ve ever spent any time at all in the incredibly competitive world of travel sports, you know that it’s not difficult to become so singular in purpose that every spare moment, every spare dollar, and every spare opportunity (and then some!) can be consumed with a pursuit of being seen, hopefully capturing the attention of a recruiter or college coach. And sometimes, parents, coaches, and even the athletes themselves can feel the pressure to become great in this one aspect of life at the expense of all others. That can leave anyone—especially those with an artistic spirit—feeling unfulfilled and unnecessarily painted into a performance corner.
For Bridgette (Caron) Borzillo, her love of sport actually came second in life behind a passion for dance. Choreographing for the first time at the age of six, she finally took her first formal dance class freshman year at Fallbrook High School in San Diego, California. Meanwhile, the talented athlete/artist also competed as a three-sport athlete in soccer, softball, and field hockey while also serving as a cheerleader, a member of the Dance Team, and a host of other activities.
Ultimately, sport won out—at least for a while. The talented outfielder made her way to San Diego State and later Arizona State as a D1 softball player. But her love for dance continued to grow. Following graduation, she went all-in in dance, performing as a member of a number of different production companies. Ultimately, she took the plunge to form a company of her own, founding CaZo Dance in 2014.
Working tirelessly to create and share her art and her lifelong love of dance, she—like so many—felt the effects of the global pandemic with full force when the world seemed to close for business, especially the performing arts.
Hear Bridgette share her store of art and sport peacefully coexisting in her world, facing down the fear of entrepreneurship, and overcoming the Lost Season of the Pandemic in Episode 25: DANCE.
Episode Summary
Artist and Athlete Bridget Borzillo Reflects on Balancing Sports and Dance for Success
SUMMARY
Bridgett Borzillo is a high achiever who loves both art and sport. She started dancing at the age of six and competed in soccer, softball, and field hockey. She went to San Diego State and later Arizona State as a D1 softball player. After graduation, Bridgett went all in on dance, performing as a member of a number of different production companies and eventually founding her own company, CaZo Dance. The global pandemic had a huge effect on the performing arts industry, but Bridgett faced down the fear of entrepreneurship and overcame the slow season of the pandemic. Bridgett joins Toby Rucks on the podcast to share her story of art and sport peacefully co-existing in her world.
Bridget Borzillo is a former student athlete who has transitioned from athletics to the arts. She is the founder and artistic director of CaZo Dance Theater. Bridgett has always had an interest in athletics, initially wanting to become a physical therapist. However, after attending a Britney Spears concert in high school, she decided to pursue a career in dance and softball. Bridgett has always had a clear vision of what she wants to do in life and her dream has led her to become the founder of her own theater.
The speaker started playing T-ball at five years old and then proceeded to play softball, soccer, basketball, and field hockey throughout their childhood and teenage years. They were originally put in goal for soccer due to their asthma and allergies and ended up playing varsity softball and soccer in high school. When they didn’t make varsity for field hockey their junior year, they decided to quit and focus on softball, soccer, and cheerleading instead.
The speaker discussed how they managed to juggle multiple sports while in high school. Their father was initially skeptical of them making varsity cheerleading but they managed to prove him wrong. The speaker believes that multi-sport athletes are beneficial as it gives the athlete a break from the mental aspect of their primary sport. They also feel that the athletic ability gained from participating in multiple sports transferred over to their dance ability. The speaker also notes that they faked their way through many dance techniques until they managed to learn them through practice.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00:00 Episode 25: Bridgett Borzillo – Finding Balance Between Art and Sport
0:03:01 Interview with Bridget Borzillo: From Student Athlete to Creative Director of Cazo Dance Theater
0:04:45 Athletic Journey: From T-Ball to Softball
0:06:41 Conversation on the Benefits of Multi-Sport Athleticism for Dance Performance
0:08:47 Recruiting Process for Division 1 Softball and Dance Major at San Diego State University
0:09:45 Conversation Summary: Reflections on Recruiting Process and Transition to San Diego State for Softball and Dance
0:11:23 Heading: Bridget’s Journey from San Diego State to Arizona State University
0:15:53 Heading: Navigating Performance and Aesthetic Pressures as a Female Athlete and Dancer
0:19:57 “Reflecting on a Setback: How Bridget Overcame Negative Feedback to Pursue Her Passion for Dance”
0:21:57 Conversation with Caso De La Cruz: Finding Confidence and Launching a Performance Dance Company
0:25:10 Conversation with Professional Dancer, Jenna Johnson, on Overcoming Fear and Pursuing Dreams
0:27:12 Interview with Professional Dancer and Dance Company Owner, Ashley Kastl
0:30:50 Conversation on Self-Esteem and Asthma Management for Young Athletes
0:33:05 Interview with Bridget: Reflections on Music, Sports, and Life Goals
0:34:52 Heading: CaZo Dance Theater: Bringing Entertainment Locally and Internationally
0:36:28 Interview with Bridget of Caso Dance Theater
HIGHLIGHTS
We’re in our ninth season and we do more story-based full-length dance shows. We do a show called Once Upon a Bachelor that is what it sounds like. It’s a full season of the Bachelor or told through dance.
What for Bridget remains undone? Our next big goal for CaZo Dance theater is to get an agent and potentially travel our shows from around the world. We would just want to bring our entertainment not just locally but to international.
I always bid that way, especially being a tri-sport athlete and being involved in youth groups and different clubs. I’ve always been that regimented and like never home. I just have to keep going.
And they help us stare that fear in its lying eyes and it allows us to head full speed ahead faced with the very real concerns about how hard it might be to start a dance company from scratch, bridge it relied upon the confidence she’d honed on the softball field, and the support of her husband and others to stop dreaming and start building
So you faced fear at every step, whether that’s launching out and going to San Diego State and pursuing a dream there, transferring midstream to ASU, pursuing dance after your athletic career was over.