Aaron Dalla Villa was born and raised in Suffolk, Virginia, and studied music and dance training at the prestigious Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia, in classical ballet and classical modern dance. He had a career in dance and worked with Nashville Ballet, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and Minnesota Ballet Theatre before moving to NYC to pursue an acting career. Since then, the award-winning artist has featured in numerous film, television, and theater roles, including the movie ‘All Those Small Things’. We had the opportunity to discuss his career, aspirations, and current projects.
Aaron, thanks for taking the time to speak to us about your career. Please tell us how and when you decided to fully embrace a career in the arts?
My pleasure, and thank you for having me! Man, where do I begin? I guess I was just born this way! But seriously, I came out of the womb being a showman and naturally gravitated towards the arts at a young age. While growing up in Suffolk, VA, my “ah ha!” moment came when I saw the middle school band play the John Williams Trilogy. I was like, “I WANNA DO THAT!” I enrolled in the middle school band and after lots of hard work and dedication, got the opportunity to sharpen my craft at the esteemed Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA, where I then transitioned into dance. I guess you could say that music led to dance, and dance led to acting. I’m pretty sure acting will lead me to directing eventually. Who knows what that may lead to…perhaps President of the United States!
You established a successful career in dance, working with Nashville Ballet, Elements Contemporary Ballet, and Minnesota Ballet Theatre. Please share your experiences working with these organizations and how they shaped your appreciation of the industry.
I was dead set on being a dancer for my life before I found acting and was fortunate enough to work with these amazing companies. Dancers work so hard (the hardest, in fact), and they are severely underpaid and under-appreciated, all the while putting their bodies through hell. I saw a person retire at the age of 26. “Why?” I asked them. “Cause I can’t take the pain anymore.” They responded.
Nashville Ballet set it off for me. Some of the best training available after the Governor’s School for the Arts training. Those dancers kick ass and specialize in classical ballet. Elements Contemporary Ballet allowed me to take that classical ballet training and shake it up. It exposed me to a broader range of movement with more free fluidity. Guesting with Minnesota Ballet Theatre was a blast. We did a production of “Teenage Wasteland,” and I played the wild card (go figure!). It incorporated so many styles of dance that my previous experience had trained me for. Every job prepares you for the next one. I’m certain of it.
Your move to New York provided several opportunities in film, television, and theatre, but what was your expectation at the time?
LOL. Leave your expectations at the door people! I thought I was going to get to New York, book a major project, and have my Oscar by 25. Dream on, buddy! I quickly woke up and realized the amount of people who have been here 10+ years, professionals who have worked/are working on Broadway, in TV and Film, who are still struggling and fighting for opportunities. I had to grow up quickly, learn the craft, work super hard, and become absolutely devoted to the work (not the prospect of fame!). Being cute and having raw talent was only enough…and that shit doesn’t last! The reality is, you have to work for it. And then, when you get a win, you have to work harder. You never stop paying your dues. And then, you start to learn how the BUSINESS works. It is not about YOU until it’s about YOU (#iykyk). That’s the beauty of the divine satisfaction of art. You’ll always want more and never be fully satisfied with your work. It’s like a drug. But it’s the best drug I’ve ever taken.
Your move has proven successful. For example, you won Best Ensemble Broadway World Long Island 2015 for “Orphans,” by Lyle Kessler, directed by James Bonney at the Conklin Theatre. You were also nominated for Best Actor for your work in the award-winning short film, “The Fold,” directed by Andrew Kiaroscuro. Of your many accolades, what is your proudest achievement to date, and why?
RIP James Bonney. That man was an incredible mentor of mine and helped me through a lot. There was something really special in the air when we did “Orphans.” I don’t have a favorite accolade. I don’t act for awards anymore. I don’t act for the critics. I don’t act for my parents or family. I don’t have a proudest achievement to date. They are all equally important and have led to the next thing. I do this because I have to. If I don’t, I’ll die. It’s that simple to me. My life is devoted to creating art. I just want to be greatly respected for what I do and leave a legacy.
Audiences can see you in the new movie “All Those Small Things” in the role of ‘Tiny Hammer.’ Please tell us more about the role and what can audiences expect?
Oh man, I really hope people watch this one. It’s so hard to get an audience for an indie film when you’re competing with the likes of so many other streamers and films with much higher marketing budgets. Audiences can expect to see me in prime form as “the wild card.” That’s what I am, and Tiny Hammer is THAT. It’s a really sweet film about what makes us happy. The main character is a well-known game show host. He has money, success, fame, and friends, but it’s not enough. The film speaks to the larger aspects of happiness and will leave you questioning, “what makes me truly happy?”
What attracts you to a role?
A good script.
The last couple of years has been a challenge for all of us, particularly for those working in the arts and entertainment sectors. You’ve made the best of a bad situation by working on music projects under the name DALLA VILLA. Please tell us more about your latest music release, “Smooth Johnny.”
Even if a virus shuts down the world of production and entertainment, I have to keep going! I saw the pandemic as an opportunity to put out something different that I haven’t shown yet. I hope people like the music, but I’m not trying to please anyone. I do this because I just want to and need to stay creative. I’m happy I did because it led to another world of creativity for me. Heck, two of my songs are in the movie “All Those Small Things.” The first of which, “Mother Goose,” a collaboration with the brilliant composer of the film Sean Phillip Johnson, dropped on June 30th on all platforms. The second, “Size Doesn’t Matter,” will be released at the right time later this year.
I actually wrote “Smooth Johnny” while I was working on the set of “Trick.” I was hoping the producers would put my song in the film, but after they didn’t, I said, “Fuck it! This needs to be out in the world!” So, naturally, I stalled for several months before putting it out there! A few projects later, my songs were in a film. Stepping stones. It’s all about stepping stones. It takes time. Just keep building, and eventually, people will notice you. That’s the name of the game. If you believe in something, put it out there and move on to the next thing. Always be “on to the next thing.” Constantly growing. Never judging. Your music may take time to pick up. I mean, hey, look at that song “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush that is blowing up because of “Stranger Things.” You just never know!
As a singer-songwriter, can you share with us your creative process when producing the material?
It all starts with the music for me. I draw concepts and ideas from the music and then work on molding the lyrics to that. The madness is in recording the track. I may do a take 50 times or spend a whole day working on a song, only to throw it all out because I don’t like any of it. I try to get it out in one golden take rather than splicing it up. It’s more challenging for me that way to nail it in one go. I have to be feeling it, too. At a moment’s notice, I can revisit a song’s beat and be inspired to record the verse. The moments of breakthrough are when I let go of control. If I’ve done the work, all I have to do is let go and let it rip. Much like farting! Once the machine starts going, you can’t stop it, and that’s the exciting part for me. Basically, I throw a bunch of things at a wall and see what sticks. I guess that’s the method to my madness. Do I look like a guy with a plan? LOL! The beauty is in spontaneity, much like life. You can’t plan the process. You have to allow it and let it happen to you. I don’t know what ease of application is because I don’t find making music to be easy. I find it to be fun, but it is work at the end of the day. My artistic objectives are my initial ideas. From there, the song develops. I have no idea what something will become once I start to allow the music to take me. You have to surrender.
To date, what would you say have been your biggest challenges as an artist?
Not comparing myself to others. It’s important to remind yourself that you are on your own journey. Self-esteem is another huge issue for me. I struggle with self-validation and am always seeking the need to be validated by others. “Do you love me?” “Was I good enough?” Are the thoughts constantly in my head. That’s not self-esteem. That’s the opposite. Oh, and mental health, too. That’s a major one. All artists should be in therapy or have worked with a therapist. It can be a brutal career if you don’t have a strong mind. And the whole social media world is fake. Just very, very fake. It’s all about the “highlights” of life. But it’s also part of the business side of the game. And in the age of technology, where you can blow up on Tik Tok, you have to play the game. When everything is going great, people love you. When the work dries up, who cares? It’s not anyone’s fault. Everyone is busy with their own lives, and they need to be reminded of “what’s hot” via major marketing budgets, algorithms, shout-outs, promos, press, what have you, to care. Then they are on to the next thing “hot” thing. It’s an endless stream of consumption. This is why you have to do the art for yourself. Because if you do it for others, your expectations will never be met. No one will ever love your art as much as you love it. But when you approach the business with this reality, you’re free of the bullshit. And you can just create. Which is what it’s all about. Everything but the work is bullshit.
If you could change one thing about the industries you work in, what would that be?
Ooooo great question. SAG-AFTRA is actually having a town hall on July 6th. I’m gonna bring up how actors should be paid for self-taped auditions. It takes an incredible amount of time to really give an audition your all. From being off book to adapting the scene to the camera, to self-taping with a coach, to lighting, to equipment, to editing. I mean, we are doing all of this work to showcase what we can do and hopefully be the right puzzle piece for the overall picture. I get all my major auditions taped at a professional studio because I want to present my best. The studio contains thousands of dollars of equipment in there. And the tape is night and day compared to when I just tape by myself. Who knows? The quality of the tape could be the thing that gives me a leg up against another actor because a producer might have “liked the way my skin looked.” I would bet that at some time in the history of self-taped casting, it has come down to stupid shit like that. Anyway, it takes a lot of time, and I believe actors should be compensated for it.
I’d also do away with all those “pay-to-play” kinds of classes. It’s just a big racket. I understand that everyone needs to make money, but I think we can come up with a system that allows actors to be seen without the financial burden. I feel like these pay-to-play classes only heighten an actor’s insecurities and desperation. We need to empower actors and remind them that the project wouldn’t happen without them. So have some self-esteem. Love what you do. Do it fully. Leave the rest. Here’s actually where social media can come into play in a positive way. Actors, put your work out there! You never know who’s watching! And it’s free! I mean, you are trading your data and what you look at for an algorithm that targets you with ads, so maybe you still do lose your money on stupid shit, but hey, at least you can have that blanket with your initials on them! Places like that just take hopeful actor’s money and constantly bombard them with what “so and so’s success was from meeting with this industry professional or this famous person’s nephew son who once ran into Tom Cruise in a bathroom at a party in LA has this script and you might be right for it! Blah blah blah,” and it disgusts me. Feeding off of the actor’s insecurities. That’s what they do. “If I just take this class, I could be this person.” Actors. Please stop. Save your money and your mind. Be kind to yourself. Remember that everyone’s path is different. Everyone’s journey is different. Some find it early. Some find it later. But if you focus on doing great work, not just good, you will surely be noticed eventually. And if you aren’t being noticed, make your own work! The people who really make waves in this industry make their own work. They disrupt the status quo, and in doing so, those once regarded as a nutcase are suddenly seen as genius. And any person who’s ever had anything bad to say about them retracts their statement once they “break.” Oh, and don’t get me started with the bullshit acting classes. And there are A LOT of those. These scam classes take advantage of people. Listen, there are brilliant teachers out there that ARE WORTH the money. So just be cautious because many are a scam. I’d set up some kind of system that gave legit teachers a badge or accreditation of some sort, so we can ween out the rackets. In the world of entertainment, there’s the art, and then there’s the business. And you have to present yourself as an artist but treat your career as a business.
I’d also make health insurance through the union more affordable and lower the income bracket for actors to qualify. Their rates are probably that way because of the joke of a medical system in this country. Medical care is a basic human right. But we aren’t going into THAT one.
What other projects are you currently working on?
I recently 1st AD’d an indie film in Florida, worked on a commercial in Israel, played the adult version of Si Robertson in the upcoming feature, “The Blind,” played the comedic relief with alt-right values in the upcoming feature “Becky 2: The Wrath of Becky,” and just wrapped a short film about the financial industry as the lead. I’m currently auditioning and excited to see what comes next. I’m also working on developing myself, my relationships, making music, planning my releases, and plotting my global domination plan. JK about the plans! Again. Do I look like a guy with a plan? Well, maybe not when I’m making in the final stages of making a piece of art (I mean, you have to have a plan before you can let go), and when I’m focused on the business, you know I am! It’s like poker. Don’t let them see your cards until you have to.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
Funny enough. Social media!
Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok – @aarondallavilla
Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music – Dalla Villa
YouTube – Dallavillathedon
“Love what you do. Do it fully. Leave the rest.” – ADV
Images courtesy of Aaron Dalla Villa. Main image Aaron Dalla Villa with James Faulkner.
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