Throughout your journey from a ballet dancer to a principal dancer, what were the key moments that shaped your career?

 

I think it was a mix of hard work and being on the right place at the right time.

But for sure having Julio Bocca as my coach and director at that time was something really especial. I had the honor to work with him in all my debuts and having him by my side was a big gift.

 

How has your background and experiences influenced your approach to ballet and your performances?

 

I come from Brazil, where dancers start doing a bit of everything at a very young age.

We also go to a lot of competitions, which is a good way to learn how to deal with the adrenaline before and during the performance, and to get used to the unique feeling of being on stage.

So when you join a Ballet company, you can really focus on all the new things you have to get used to like new routine, new repertoire, new culture and use the time on stage to really enjoy and explore new ways to express ourselves.

 

Photo By: Carol Lancelloti

Can you share some of the most significant challenges you’ve faced in your career and how you overcame them?

 

I think as a dancer every day is a new challenge. We are in constant search for improvement and meaning.

Every detail can make a difference.

 

How do you see the future of ballet evolving, particularly in relation to new technologies and media?

 

I think it’s really good to show your work and engage with the audience through the media, as many people wouldn’t have access to our art otherwise.

But at the same time posting videos or pictures where everything is “perfect” all of the time, is not healthy. Because that’s not the reality, we are humans and we are all different.

Like this, dancers grow to think that they are not good enough if they don’t look like a certain way, or don’t turn as many pirouettes or don’t have as many likes and views as someone else. In the end you see a lot of frustration and forget about the work in the studio, what for me is the most important thing.

 

Photo By: Carlos Quezada

How have you seen your own artistic expression and technique change over the years?

 

When I started doing principal roles in a professional company I was 17 years old.

Some ballets were a challenge for me because I didn’t have a lot of experience and maturity to be able to really get into the core of the role.

Now watching my videos I understand that time and experience are so important for our artistic freedom. And also technique, over the years you start to understand better your body and know how to work most effectively with your strengths and weaknesses.

What advice would you give to young dancers aspiring to reach the heights of great companies?

 

Everyone’s journeys are different.

I truly believe that the greatest thing a dancer can achieve is finding a place where they are appreciated and feel free to be themselves, somewhere where they can feel they belong.

Believe in yourself and in your hard work and everyone else will believe it too.

 

You can see Gustavo, Live as part of the Ballet Stars Unleashed Program in Basel, Lausanne and Zurich: https://www.balletstarsunleashed.com/  Use our code and get 20% off! Use the code:  BACBSU24