KCB Dancer Helps With 30th Anniversary in Colombia

Kansas City Ballet company dancer Juan Pablo Trujillo hails from Cali, Colombia. He started his dance training at the Incol Ballet in Cali. The school is the only one of its kind in Colombia to offer academics and ballet. When a student graduates, they become a member of the National Ballet of Colombia.

Last summer, Trujillo was flown in for two months to be the guest ballet master with the National Ballet of Colombia and also a guest teacher with the school. He staged several ballets for the company who is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its school Incol Ballet in Cali, Colombia.
Trujillo staged several pieces including Meditation (pas de deux) by Jacques d’Amboise to music by Jules Massenet, Wingborne by Loyce Houlton to music by Antonin Dvorák, Lento e tempo é appassionato by Vicente Nebrada to music by Alexander Scriabin, and Barrio-Ballet — a mix of the Carribean Salsa of Cali and the European tradition of ballet.

The benefit performance raised money to renovate and repair the studios used by both the school and the National Ballet of Colombia. Trujillo was instrumental in helping the dancers prepare for this performance. It opened with former Incol Ballet student and current Boston Ballet dancer Carlos Molina and his wife Erika Cornejo dancing Sparticus, followed by Lento. The evening-length Barrio-Ballet was the final performance of the evening. Trujillo helped stage this ballet — he performed in it when he was 17 and attending school. The ballet is made up of 40 dancers doing ballet and salsa.

“It was almost like coming full circle,” said Trujillo of the experience. “My school is one of the most important schools in Latin America. For me to have this opportunity was nerve wracking but a good responsibility to have and to manage. It was one of the most fulfilling opportunities I’ve had in my life.”

The 30th anniversary continues this year with galas and performances. Trujillo will continue to be a guest ballet master for the National Ballet of Colombia as his schedule allows.

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