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
Rafaela Henrique is a native of Jundiai, SP, Brazil. She trained with Danzaria Estúdio de Dança and Houston Ballet Academy. She was a member of Houston Ballet II, before joining Houston Ballet as an Apprentice in 2019. She is currently part of the Corps de Ballet.
Q&A with Rafaela Henrique
What do you miss about performing onstage?
“I really miss everything about it, from the growth that comes from our daily routine preparing for a performance, to the moments under the spotlight and being inspired by watching and dancing alongside all the beautiful dancers. Performing on stage is expressing yourself in a way you cannot experience anywhere else, it’s a feeling of freedom and happiness that I dearly miss. I miss the energy exchange with the audience and the joy of being present in the moment sharing a unique expression of art that comes from a live performance. That’s priceless to an artist! I can’t wait to be back on stage!”
What does your Hispanic/Latinx heritage mean to you?
“For me it means honoring and celebrating the history of this amazing culture that is a part of my identity. As a Brazilian, coming from such a diverse country makes me truly appreciate and admire the uniqueness that each culture brings. It’s beautiful to see the Hispanic/Latinx Heritage being celebrated for its great influence and contributions to the history and being a reminder of the importance of respecting cultural diversity.”
What changes do you hope to see in the world of ballet as a female Latinx dancer in light of the social justice movements of 2020?
“I really hope to see the whole world keep striving towards an environment where people are respected for their character and attitudes instead of only appearances and race. I’m so happy to see more opportunities being given to ballet dancers of different races and ethnicities lately and I hope that this is only the beginning towards a generation of more equality in the ballet world.”
Why do we need to #savethearts?
“The arts are essential for the human nature. We are surrounded by art, it molds us as human beings and allows us to escape from reality and access the most personal feelings. During this reclusive time the risk of many forms of art not surviving is real, and we all as a society can not allow that. A society without art is a society without identity. Many artists lost their ability to work properly at the moment, therefore it’s essential to support artists and foundations to keep our society’s spirit alive more than ever.”
Save the arts today and keep our dancers dancing by donating at give.houstonballet.org/donate.
