WATCH: Meet Joburg Ballet’s Cuban choreographer
JOBURG - Cuba is a place most commonly associated with great cigars and mobsters, but Juan Carlos Hernández Osma is showing the world another side of his homeland.
The dancer-turned-choreographer has been performing ballet since he was 10 years old, making this year his 13th year in the ballet industry.
A common misconception which seems prevalent in South Africa is that males in the ballet industry are either homosexual or they’ve struggled in their social lives.
“In Cuba if you do ballet you’re cool and you get all the girls,” the dancer said as he explained his motives for starting ballet.
“South Africa is a bit behind, because when I say I do ballet people are in disbelief. If you go to Cuba, Germany, Australia, France or America a male ballet dancer is ‘Wow’.
“He is amazing – even if he’s not – he is considered amazing because he uses his body and his muscles.”
By taking part in ballet, Osma has been able to tour the world in a number of internationally-acclaimed productions – some of which are still touring.
He explained that ballet has made his life better by not only getting him in great shape but continually pushing him.
“Ballet is a challenge for me, but if you don’t have a challenge, you don’t have a reason,” said Osma.
WATCH our interview below:
Rehearsing from 10am to 6pm almost every day, if not more, the members of Joburg Ballet show that commitment and dedication are core values that contribute towards their success.
The long hours of strenuous training doesn’t get the dancer down.
“I’m just happy because I love to dance – I don’t only love ballet. I love all types of dance,” he said.
Osma, who now lives in Greenside, moved to the bustling city of Johannesburg in August last year after meeting Joburg Ballet CEO, Dirk Badenhorst. The two met at the International Academies Festival in Cuba, where Badenhorst invited Osma to come to South Africa and join Joburg Ballet as a guest artist.
The pieces choreographed by Osma will be performed at the end of August and the beginning of September as part of Joburg Ballet’s spring programme.
Check out Jan Carlos Hernández Osma’s interview with City Buzz.
Details: www.joburgtheatre.com
