The Dancing Nurse

October 30, 2018

CHICAGO- Victor Lugo is not afraid to put down his stethoscope and bust a move.

If he is not in the cardiac care unit treating young patients, he is in the studio practicing his choreography. The 26-year-old Filipino nurse works 12-hour shifts at Lurie Children's Hospital. But during his free time, Lugo choreographs hip hop routines, is a member of a competitive dance team and creates dance videos for his social media accounts. He uses dance as a form to express himself in ways that his job in the hospital cannot.

“If I can describe the feeling of dancing, I would say free,” Lugo continues. “It is liberating to just move for the sake of moving to music. It is exciting to me.”

Lugo pursued nursing to please his parents. His parents, who were born in the Philippines, encouraged Lugo to be successful. Their idea of success equates with being a nurse. Since Lugo’s parents struggled to provide for their kids when they moved to the U.S., his parents knew that nursing would be a safe career that ensures job and financial security. To make his parents happy, he followed their wishes.

“I was forced to go into nursing. My parents would not help pay for tuition unless I pursue this career,” he says. “My parents see dancing as something that will not make money. I understand because they are practical. They want what’s best for me.”

As long as Lugo has money to take care of himself, his parents allow him to dance. Although his parents are not his biggest fan, he has a group of people supporting him. Liane Salazar, Lugo’s girlfriend who is also a nurse, knows what it is like being raised with Filipino parents.

“We understand each other since both of our parents are Filipino and we go through the same things. We work, then we have to take care of our parents and siblings when we get home. We barely have time to focus on ourselves.”

The characteristic that Salazar admires about Lugo is his determination to live out his passion.

“Yet with his busy schedule with work, he never stops smiling. It is because he dances. You know he is doing what he loves,” Salazar continues. “He has a beautiful mind. I am so proud of him. I want him to keep going.”

Victor has been dancing for nine years and has no plans of stopping. He hopes that dancing is something he does till the very last day of life.

“If I knew I was going to die tomorrow, I would host an event to all the people I know. I will just play music the whole night so we all can dance,” Lugo continues. “To have people I love doing the thing I love the most would make my life end happy.”