Warhill Student Stars in Episode of MTV's 'Made'

By Amber Lester Kennedy Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Choreographer Desiree Godsell works to transform Warhill student Mia Nesselrodt, right, into a salsa dancer.

Nesselrodt, a rising senior at Warhill High School, spent more than a month being transformed into a salsa dancer under the tutelage of Brooklyn, N.Y.-based dancer Desiree Godsell. Handed an inexperience dancer with a troubled past, Godsell was able to mold her student into a Latin dancer in time to perform at the Latin Festival in Virginia Beach on June 6.

Nesselrodt had her opportunity to star in an episode of the long-running MTV show when talent scouts from the channel visited Warhill earlier this year. She sat for interviews with the scouts, who asked what she’d like to become for one day. She immediately thought “salsa dancer.”

Nesselrodt, who has Puerto Rican, Cuban and Mexican ancestry, wanted to be more in touch with her cultural background, a part of her that has been missing from her life. She was abused as a child and spent eight years in foster care before she was adopted two years ago. She never took formal dance classes, but has performed praise dances at her church, Crosswalk Ministry in Williamsburg.

“My dream was always to become a dancer, to have an opportunity to dance,” she said Friday.

Two weeks after her initial interview with MTV, channel representatives called and let her know she’d been cast. It was a big thrill for Nesselrodt, who had seen several episodes of the show. “I said, ‘What?! Omigosh this is great!’” she said. “I’m a huge fan.”

She knew the experience wouldn’t be easy. The show typically sends a professional to the participant’s hometown, where the pro then revamps every aspect of the participant’s life in order to be ready for a showcase at the end of the episode. It’s often grueling, and challenges the participant to push himself or herself to accomplish what might seem impossible.

Godsell surprised Nesselrodt at church, where she had just completed a praise dance. A pastor told her she’d have to work “even harder” for her next dance, and when she realized what was happening, she was stunned. “I was crying happy tears,” she said.

For the following six weeks, Godsell taught Nesselrodt not only how to dance the salsa, but also how to dress like a lady. Godsell has choreographed routines for singer Santigold, danced with the group TV on the Radio and toured with Kanye West and Coldplay.

On June 6, Nesselrodt performed a routine with partner Chris Balch in front of more than 3,000 people at the Latin Festival. “It was great! I was nervous, but happy,” she said. “It was a mixture of emotions.”

She hopes to continue dancing, and received tickets to visit the Mambo Room in Norfolk for free on Fridays. Dancing will stay a hobby, however; Nesselrodt hopes to eventually work with people who have special needs and go into evangelism.

Watch Nesselrodt’s episode at 4 p.m. July 14 on MTV.