Hello, Tiago! Can you tell us a little more about yourself? Where are you from, when were you born? How did you decide to come to Bulgaria and in particular to Ruse?
I am Thiago Victor Santana, 23 years old, Brazilian (Brazil). I am in Bulgaria because I had a dream to participate in the famous ballet competition in Varna. So, as a foreigner who decided to find a job near this competition to make my life easier, I typed in Google "ballet company's in Bulgaria" and then Ruse was the city where it made sense to look for a job because the State Opera-Ruse has similar principles to my own.
How and why did you choose this profession?
I was with my parents at a restaurant (only 9 years old) and the pianist in the place started playing, I stood up and started moving and the movements had some similarities to classical ballet. My mother looked at me and asked what I was doing and I said I wanted to learn to dance because it felt so good when I danced, like my soul was expanding.
Who is your favorite ballet dancer/performer and why?
My favourite is the Russian ballet dancer Ivan Vasiliev. In my opinion, he reached the highest level of ballet dancer, he united the two most important things in my opinion - the technique and the artistic part of ballet. This is extremely difficult to happen in a dancer, to achieve the highest level of technique and get the highest level of expression. There's no way you can go watch Ivan Vasiliev and not feel that he's the character telling you the story and the importance of every detail.
What is your favourite role that you have played on the Ruse opera stage?
My favorite is Albert from the ballet "Giselle"
Is there a role you want to play but haven't had the chance yet?
Basil (Basilio) from Don Quixote.
Tell us about the SARA-NORA PRIMA International Ballet Competition. What were the regulations for participation in it?
I performed 4 classical variations from famous ballets (Harlequinade, Basil from Don Quixote, Albert from Giselle and The Flames of Paris).
The competition was from 4th to 9th of July, I went through three rounds to the final... The jury included famous names from the world of ballet. My position was 3rd place with 1500 BGN, a cooperation contract with the National Theatre in Belgrade (Serbia) and a guest contract at Opera Burgas (Bulgaria).
Is there anything you want to say to young boys and girls about the art of ballet? What does it mean to you, what does it bring to you and do you think it's important for young people to at least see that they have opportunities and that there is a future in this art?
I believe that all people are on earth to help in earthly progress and, of course, in their own spiritual development. Ballet was the way I found to do this, making people's lives, at least during the time they watch me, a little lighter and happier.
For the younger generation: see what you love to do, what you are good at, explore it and work to become the best at it, because passion is something really demanding, it will always ask a lot of you and to achieve it you have to give everything, even what you don't have. If you don't make the sacrifice, your goal and your dream will become a Sacrifice.
I will stay in Ruse next season because I have a lot to learn and I love Ruse people.
I'm really grateful for everything I've learned here and I still feel I have to show it by staying at State Opera-Ruse.
