Introducing Juan Negreira, a talented new addition to the Sacramento Ballet company this season. Originally from Uruguay and raised in Brazil, Juan has trained internationally, refining his craft across Europe before joining our company. Known for his expressive movement and technical prowess, Juan brings a unique blend of cultural influences and dedication to his work. We recently sat down with him to discuss his journey, his inspirations, and his excitement for the upcoming season with Sacramento Ballet.
Born in Uruguay and raised in Brazil, how have these diverse cultural influences shaped your artistic identity as a dancer?
Well, honestly, I am very grateful to be part of the Latin culture, I think it is very important to highlight the beauty of each country having their own cultural diversity. And for me being lucky to have the opportunity to get to know two of them in a deep way. I think that like all knowledge you end up absorbing a little bit of everything, so I believe that a little of these two cultures are consciously or even unconsciously rooted into my dance.
I think what stands out most in both cultures in their musical performances is the rhythm. Be it Uruguyan Cumbia or the various Brazilian dance diversity like funk or samba, Growing up with these influences certainly shaped the way I see music and consequently my dance.
What was the most impactful lesson you learned while training in Europe, and how do you see it influencing your artistic journey at Sacramento Ballet?
I usually say that in my training at Arles Youth Ballet Company I redefined myself as a dancer, artist and especially as a Human Being. I had a broader vision of what it means to be a dancer and I learned to respect this hard but beautiful profession even more. I am very grateful to the directors of this project Norton Fantinel and Karina Moreira for all the opportunities and teachings they gave me.
Having lived and trained across different continents, how have these diverse experiences helped you adapt and evolve as both an artist and an individual?
The coolest part of having had the honor of being able to travel and see the world is definitely being able to have contact with so many different cultures and nationalities. Having friends from practically every continent made me realize how diverse and beautiful the human race is, so it shaped me to realize how your culture and origin can shape someone. So having this experience even helps me to be inspired when it comes to developing my artistic and communicative side.
What drew you to join Sacramento Ballet, and what are you most eager to explore in this new chapter of your career?
I had the opportunity to audition when the director was in France, and as I already followed the company’s repertoire and vision, I had no doubt that I wanted to be part of this journey. I’m loving this new chapter, it’s all very new, but with each step I take I feel so grateful to have the chance to reflect my entire journey and realize that now I’m in a place where I feel happy.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your dance career when you realized that ballet was your passion and future?
I think that since the beginning, I started ballet at an age that could even be considered late, but from the first day I knew that this was what I wanted to do. Ballet is not just a dance…it is like a therapy and something you learn to deal with day by day. Something that improves slowly but very intensely.
Ballet, in my opinion, is something like a ritual where every day you take your class to connect with your body and especially with your essence. Having bad or good days, every day you go through this ritual and for me this has an enormous power. And of course there’s still the opportunity to get away from disconnecting from the world when I’m on stage.
So I think that ballet is a privilege some people can have.
Is there a particular ballet or role you’re excited to perform with Sacramento Ballet, and why does it resonate with you?
Definitely The Nutcracker, it was the first ballet I watched. When I felt and knew that I wanted to do ballet, my mother took me to watch the Nutcracker of the company in the city where I lived and it was a crucial moment. After I watched it , I knew in that moment that it was definitely what I wanted for my life. So having the opportunity to maybe even feel all these nostalgic emotions would be incredible!
How do you approach creating connections with audiences from different cultural backgrounds, and what themes or emotions do you hope to communicate through your performances?
I think the answer to this question depends on the choreography and their meaning. I think that each choreography has their own power and what I like about art is that even if you dance the same ballet for weeks, no day will be the same, because we are human beings and every day we feel different things and this is not different in dance. I always try to really feel what I want to show to the public and I think I try my best to show my honesty.
How do you balance the technical precision required in ballet with your creative expression, especially when working with new choreographers or exploring unfamiliar styles?
This is the hardest part to be honest! We are so used to looking in the mirror every day to correct ourselves, evaluate ourselves, always try to change something, be it improving technical quality or even physical condition, that when we need to simply leave all that and let ourselves be carried away to enter inside a specific role or even these choreographies that challenge your comfort zone, can honestly sometimes be difficult. But when you learn to let yourself be led and allow yourself to make mistakes, you end up feeling much more pleasure in all of this and value the learning that everything can be.
As you join Sacramento Ballet, what are your long-term goals as a dancer, and how do you envision your career evolving in the future?
Definitely use this experience as self-knowledge, discovering new limits, challenges and knowledge. All this to improve me as a dancer and especially as an artist and Human Being . I think I will always want more and more and never stop growing up and I know that with Sacramento Ballet I will be closer and closer to becoming what I wanted to be when I start dancing.