Dance Interview with a Professional Male Dancer

_{Image credit: Lucie Maceczkova, elemfoto.cz}

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Table of Contents

INTERVIEW WITH MALE DANCER – YAGO CATALINAS HEREDIA (FROM THE NATIONAL MORAVIAN SILESIAN THEATRE)

In this interview, we’ll ask male dancer Yago Catalinas Heredia a series of questions, to help you with your dance career.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A MALE DANCER?

As a child, I had boundless energy so my parents decided to put me in different styles of dance classes, having danced ballroom themselves.

I danced jazz, hip-hop, and ballroom, but ballet stole my heart.

I soon realised that ballet was what I wanted to do.

It was the grace and power of male dancers that truly ignited my inspiration and my hope to one day do the same.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY SIGNIFICANT DANCE INJURIES?

Dance is physically demanding on the body, which makes you focus on injury prevention.

For me, I was always rolling my ankles and I learned that I needed to spend time on a balance board, as well as using resistance bands.

My key point was to focus more on the landings of my movements.

I also dislocated my shoulder numerous times during pas de deux. I had to concentrate on using my legs rather than my upper body when lifting.

Even though some injuries resulted in significant time off stage, with the proper rehabilitation and strengthening exercises, I always came back stronger and more aware of my body.

HOW DO YOU BRING A CHARACTER PORTRAYAL TO LIFE?

Dance is not just about movement, but also storytelling and character portrayal.

Playing strong characters has always been a source of joy for me.

I thrive on the thrill of delving deep into a character’s psyche and breathing life into them. I believe you need to have a thorough understanding of the role and the choreographer´s vision.

The best way to do this was to research the character´s persona, era, strengths, and vulnerabilities, by watching movies, reading books, and even watching other dancers.

Male professional dancer on stage — _{Image credit: The National Moravian Silesian Theatre}

WHO IS YOUR FAVOURITE DANCE CHOREOGRAPHER?

It’s hard to choose but I really admire the work of Johan Inger.

When I danced ́Rain Dogs, one of his pieces, it made me feel alive. His unique style of movement resonated with me deeply.

The steps felt incredibly human.

Dancers on stage in Rain Dogs performance — _{Image credit: Narodni Divadlo Moravskoskelzske}

I loved the subtle hints of humour and personality woven into his work and the words of the music.

It immersed me completely.

I grew not only as a dancer but as a person.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START CHOREOGRAPHING YOUR DANCE PIECES?

I always had so many ideas swirling around in my head, that bringing them to life, with emotion and movement, allowed me to explore my creative side.

This naturally led me into dance choreography.

WHAT SACRIFICES HAVE YOU MADE FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL DANCE CAREER?

One of the significant sacrifices in my life was leaving home at 16 to pursue a professional dance career in Germany, where I didn’t speak the language and had to learn to navigate life independently.

I learned to rely on my fellow dancers, who became my family away from home.

As dancers, we often lead unconventional lives, sacrificing activities and socialising to dedicate ourselves to hours of training and hard work.

In the end, it’s all worth it when your family and friends get to see you perform on stage.

WHAT STEREOTYPES DID YOU FACE AS A MALE DANCER?

During my early experiences with dance, particularly in ballet school, I encountered challenges as a male dancer.

A group of male professional dancers on stage in white shirts and blue pants — _{Image credit: The National Moravian Silesian Theatre}

While I was involved in various dance styles at the time, I faced bullying from some girls in my ballet class who were determined to make me feel like I didn’t belong.

At the time, I struggled with their hurtful comments, and actions which almost made me give up on ballet altogether.

luckily, I always had the support of my family and teachers, who encouraged me to follow my dreams.

For those struggling with something similar, it’s crucial to block out negativity, even when it hurts, and to remember that you are never alone in your struggles.

WHAT IS KEY TO CREATING A STRONG WORKING RELATIONSHIP FOR PAS DE DEUX?

Building a good working relationship comes down to effective communication.

You need to talk, listen, and be open to discussing aspects of the pas de deux that might not be working.

It’s important to develop your relationship outside of the theatre as well.

You might find that having common interests, spending time together, and getting to know them as a person, can bring you closer whilst dancing.

Equally important is having trust. You need to know that your partner supports you, and can rely on you during difficult lifts.

WHAT’S YOUR TOP PIECE OF ADVICE FOR ASPIRING DANCERS TO SUCCEED AS A MALE DANCER?

My top piece of advice is to always believe in yourself and don’t stress about perfection.

It doesn’t exist!

Dance is subjective; there will be some people who appreciate your work and others who don’t.

That’s OK.

Have the courage to pursue your dreams, and remember why you love dancing.

Male dancer on stage — _{Image credit: Narodni Divadlo Moravskoskelzske}

WHAT IS ONE THING DANCE HAS GIVEN YOU IN LIFE?

Dance has opened up a world of opportunities for me, allowing me to explore different places and connect with so many people from all over the world.

Through dance, I’ve learned to speak English and find the woman who has now become my wife.

Professional Dancer Yago Catalinas Heredia after proposing to Brittany Haws — _{That’s Yago proposing to his now wife}

Despite not speaking the same language, by sharing such intimate moments in dance, we became good friends and later, our relationship blossomed into something more.

I am proud to be a husband and father of two beautiful boys and I often reflect on how dance played such an important role in bringing us together.