Meet Miguel Franco-Green, Alberton’s rising ballet star
The 19-year-old professional ballet dancer has already performed a range of classical and contemporary roles, establishing himself as a standout talent.
Miguel Franco-Green (19) an Alberton-based ballet rising star, is a professional ballet dancer who already performed a range of classical and contemporary roles.
During his two-year stint with Joburg Ballet, he has displayed work ethic, discipline, and passion.
Miguel has also received offers from international ballet recruiters, including from the UK, Ireland, the USA, and Canada.
Though tempting, Miguel has declined the offers and opted to stay and build his career in South Africa.
Apart from being a patriot at heart, Miguel’s decision to stay in South Africa stems from a deep belief in the potential of South African ballet and a personal commitment to contributing to its growth and recognition.
Some of his outstanding performances include the Chocolate Seller and Golden Flake in Mario Gaglione’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a production that won a Naledi Award.
He has also performed extensively in the Corps de Ballet and, more recently, featured in Dane Hurst’s Resonance and the pas de trois in Veronica Paeper’s Swan Lake.
Miguel has won multiple ballet competitions and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) bursary. He was also a gold medallist at the South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC).
An SAIBC medal puts him among the top young dancers in the country. For his achievements at SAIBC, Miguel also received a formal mayoral recognition from the City of Johannesburg (CoJ).
Despite choosing to stay local, Miguel is no stranger to the international stage. He has received scholarships and attended elite training programmes and summer schools around the world.
Miguel received three invitations to South Korea, where he trained one-on-one with Professor Sun Hi Kim at the K-Arts University, attended classes with Julio Bocca, and appeared twice in the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix (USA).
He also spent the summer training in Leiria, Portugal, at the Annarella International Conservatory of Ballet and Dance.
Miguel is working towards becoming a principal dancer and, eventually, choreographing original works. He remains focused on pushing artistic boundaries while proudly representing South African ballet.
