“It was so clean!” says Omar of Singapore, where he performed recently before starting his second year at UC Irvine.  Entering in International Studies, Omar switched to dance – and he’s surprised as anyone about changing majors.    

“No way did I want to try out (for Saint Joseph Ballet in 1997).  For stuff like that, guys make fun of you at school.  My two cousins wanted me to.  I don’t even know why I went.  I was into sports.  And though I got picked up – most guys do – I didn’t like it for a long time.  I didn’t give it a chance at first.  It just grew on me.

“In our men’s ballet class – Steven (Inskeep) made the class fun for us.  We got our work done; we worked hard.  But we laughed too.  I liked how the older guys, well we’d try to encourage the younger ones.   In the locker room, Oscar (Gutierrez, now a sophomore at Cornish College in Seattle) and I would say things like, ‘Paul, you started turning better.  Or hey, Edgar, you need to pull up more.’  We’d say, ‘don’t be afraid. When you go across the floor, nobody makes fun of you. We’re all just trying to get better.  

“I really like being at UC Irvine.  I love the classes and the teachers there.  I like being independent, and the balance of academics and arts and dancing.  It’s challenging.  Especially around finals, when you’re rehearsing a lot, I have to plan the whole week ahead, to get every thing done. 

“I’ve met people from intensive dance schools, and now I see how Saint Joseph Ballet is different.  Where they studied, it wasn’t about developing good relationships, with peers, with the dance teachers, with the tutors.  At SJB there are people to talk to.  Everyone helps you out, checks up on your grades.  I know other students say this, but it is true.  It’s like a second home. 

“I wouldn’t have thought of dancing.  What really helped me was working with guest choreographers, like Melanie and Mark Haim.  When we moved into our new studios (1999) Ballet Tech came from New York.  They really influenced me.  The guys were muscular and really worked hard.  Ballet is not about being cute.  It’s really physically demanding.  I like the challenge.  In dance, you gotta train like any sport.  I just started falling for it. 

 “Then the Limon Company came for two weeks.  Rafael Boumaila {www.limon.org} taught men’s class and Francisco Ruvalcaba taught rep.  We asked what it was like to be a dancer.  Rafael would tell us how he liked performing.  He couldn’t see himself behind a desk.  He said, ‘What can be better than working at a job that doesn’t seem like work?  Like expressing yourself, rather than doing paperwork.’  What Rafael said, clicked for me.  Why do a job that you’re not going to enjoy?  Dancers don’t make much money, but it’s better to do something that you like, than not.

“The vibe in Singapore was different for me.  Tammy Wong, a grad student at UC Irvine, asked me to come perform with her in Singapore, where she’s from. 

I was worried that I couldn’t keep up with the dancers there.  They were thinking the same thing about me.  It was funny that all of us were coming with the same mentality.  Our technique was different, but we were able to perform together.  It wasn’t as different as we thought it would be.

“Saint Joseph Ballet isn’t just about improving in dance.  Lots of kids at SJB have different interests and study different things.  I know dance is not for everyone.  I think it’s a good place where you realize who you are – who you want to be.  Mentally, you learn a lot. 

“Performances take team work.  You gotta learn how to work together.  You develop skills and responsibility.   It is a good way to grow up and mature.  I think Saint Joseph Ballet opens your mind to the world.  To learn what is going on.  It’s a good place to find yourself.”