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Luiz Silva at Miami City Ballet

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Luiz Silva at Miami City Ballet

 




Introduction to Luiz Silva. 0:31 sec. Interview: Raymond Elman.  Post-Production: Lee Skye. Music:  Dee Yan-Kee.  Photos:  Gary James, Christopher Duggan, Alexander Iziliaev. Recorded via Zoom,   3/25/2022, Miami Beach.

 

 

LUIZ SILVA grew up in a small town in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and started dancing at age 15 at Escola de Dança Fundação Porto Real under the direction of Maria Angélica Costa.

In 2011 he began participating in many competitions in Brazil, one of which earned him a spot at Youth American Grand Prix in New York. He competed in April 2012 and received a scholarship to Orlando Ballet’s summer program. In September 2012, he also received a scholarship for the year-round program at University of North Carolina School of the Arts at the competition “Entreatos Internacional,” where he did course with Raymond Lukens, Warren Connover, Liz Malm and Rafi Maldonado.

In 2013, he attended the MCB Summer Intensive on full scholarship. He had the opportunity to perform his first Balanchine ballet, Square Dance, and was invited to stay for the year-round program, which he began in January 2014.

During his time as a student and as a member of the MCB School Ensemble, Silva has performed leading roles in The Sleeping Beauty, Serenade, “Diamonds,” Western Symphony, Les Sylphides and Theme and Variations.

He was named an Apprentice for the 2015-16 season and officially joined MCB as a corps de ballet dancer in 2016.

The videos below were recorded via Zoom, are organized by Success Factor, and run between 30 seconds and 6 minutes. Click on any video. You must be connected to the Internet to view the videos.

 

SERENDIPITY: 0:37 sec.




Where did you grow up, and what was your first awareness of art of any discipline?

 

DEVELOP A VOICE: 0:51 sec.




Were you already interested in dance? Or did they look at your body and see that you had the body of a dancer?

 

SEIZES OPPORTUNITIES: 2:27 min.




How did you connect with Miami City Ballet?

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:  0:39 sec.




Did you move to Miami after the audition? And did Miami City Ballet become the center of your life?

 

OVERCOMES CHALLENGES TO SUCCEED:  1:23 min.




It must have been overwhelming for you to move to Miami as a 14 year-old who did not speak English or Spanish.

 

RESILIENCE:   0:46 sec.




Ballet dancers endure a lot of injuries and pain. Is there ever a time during your dance career when you are pain free?

 

VALUES FIRST-RATE EDUCATION:  1:56 min.




Talk about your evolution as a student dancer from the time you arrived in Miami until you became a professional with Miami City Ballet.

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:   1:36 min.




Who are your role models and influencers?

 

STRONG DRIVE FOR ACHIEVEMENT:   1:35 min.




What are your aspirations and limitations as a dancer?

 

DEVELOP A VOICE:   0:54 sec.




What are a few of your favorite roles?

 

CREATES A UNIQUE PERSONAL BRAND:  1:59 min




Are you interested in creating ballets?

 

CRITICAL THINKING:  1:12 min. 




Can a ballet based on a myth be as valid and powerful as a ballet based on your personal experiences?

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:  1:07 min.




Ballet dancers have a short performance lifetime. Do you see yourself staying in Miami when your performance career is over?

 

COMMUNITY VALUES:  1:27 min




Do you have the opportunity to meet Brazilian artists of various disciplines in Miami? Or do you mainly know the dance community?

 

INSIGHT & INSPIRATION:  0:45 sec.




Because of Lourdes Lopez’ connection to George Balanchine, MCB performs many of his ballets. Should I assume that you like Balanchine’s choreography?