Marissa Labog, affectionately nicknamed "Mighty" by her peers, is a firm believer in the profound transformative power of storytelling. This moniker is a testament to her fearless and powerful approach to creative endeavors, earning her prestigious awards such as the Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Performer, the Solo Award, and an Ovation Award Nomination.
Unable to sit still, Marissa explored a multitude of movement forms, including dance, gymnastics, and martial arts, as well as running, jumping, and climbing trees. As a dancer, she performed nationally and internationally with PCB Ballet and Inland Pacific Ballet, and was encouraged by her loving mother to take up martial arts to learn self-defense while traveling abroad. Marissa excelled in Karate, and furthered her study with capoeira and Tae Kwon Do.
Intrigued by her training and its connection to her growing desire to tell stories, Marissa went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Dance and English from Scripps College, where she was awarded the coveted Lucille Morrison Scholarship. Following her graduation, Marissa performed as a principal dancer across the United States, Japan, Ireland, Portugal, Russia, China, Holland, Belgium, and England with companies such as John Pennington, the LA Philharmonic, Oni Dance, Rosanna Gamson Worldwide, Company of Strangers, and Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, of which she is rehearsal director.
In a wonderful twist of fate, Marissa discovered breaking, also known as breakdancing. Impressed by its freedom and pursuit of individuality, she went on to found and direct the breaking performance group "One Step Ahead." Established as a youth advocate organization, OSA is now recognized as a prominent physical theater company.
Throughout her career, Marissa has worked with renowned artists such as Tina Turner, Christina Aguilera, LL Cool J, and prominent brands such as Nike, iPod, and Coke. She has also appeared in television shows such as "The Drew Carey Show," "Fresh Beat Band," "Shake It Up," and films like "House Bunny," "Bratz," and "Colombiana," to name a few. Through her film work, Marissa had the pleasure of collaborating with superstar David Belle, the originator of parkour, and delving into the world of stunts, a perfect fit for her unique skills.
Currently, Marissa is studying acting with Diana Castle and Steve Tiesort, and can be seen in various productions, including "Act of Valor," "Hail Satan," and "Dirty Mean Tricks," a theater production that showcases her versatility as an actress. A proud member of SAG and AFTRA, Marissa looks forward to many creative adventures coming her way.
