Houston Ballet and its artists come together from a multitude of backgrounds and experiences with a common goal – to bring the beauty and artistry of ballet to our community. Get to know these artists and what they are experiencing during this ongoing crisis.
About the Artist
Luzemberg Santana is a native of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil and studied at the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil. Prior to joining Houston Ballet’s Corps de Ballet in 2018, he spent one season at Tulsa Ballet, and five seasons at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He was promoted to Demi Soloist in 2019. Learn more about his backstory and career at houstonballet.org.
Q&A with Luzemberg Santana
What do you miss about performing onstage?
“I miss being able to express myself and sharing my emotions onstage with the audience. I also miss the feeling of adrenaline before I step onstage and how rewarding it is to finish a performance well.”
What does your Hispanic/Latinx heritage mean to you?
“I am proud to be a Brazilian because we are independent and self-sufficient people, and we always prioritize family and love being together. Our culture is very fun and outgoing, and we have the best barbeque!”
What changes do you hope to see in the world of ballet as a Male Hispanic dancer in light of the social justice movements of 2020??
“I have already begun to see more diverse people in the ballet world, but there is still work to be done and I am hopeful that the ballet world and professional companies will continue to be more and more inclusive to people of different races, ethnicities, sexual orientation, and body types. Having a more diverse group of dancers in ballet companies around the world will not only inspire a new generation of dancers, but will broaden the audience to include different communities and more people to enjoy the arts.”
Why do we need to #savethearts?
“Ballet companies around the world and most performing arts organizations had to abruptly shutdown because of the pandemic. These organizations and their performers are struggling right now and need find a way to stay afloat. Dance inspires people, helps people, and makes them feel all kinds of emotions such as happiness. Dancers tell stories and these stories need to be shared. Art carries so much history and history must be remembered. Without art we have no history.”
Save the arts today and keep our dancers dancing by donating at give.houstonballet.org/donate.
