1 00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Hi. 2 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 2: This is Christopher Soudo, writer and prison abolitionist. I'm currently 3 00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 2: in the hills of San Salvador and wanted to wish 4 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 2: a happy thirtieth anniversary to Latino USA. 5 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,319 Speaker 3: This is Latino USA, the radio journal of news and 6 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 3: Curture Latino USA. Latino Latino USA. I'm Maria Inojosa. We 7 00:00:27,680 --> 00:00:31,319 Speaker 3: bring you stories that are underreported but that mattered to you, 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 3: overlooked by the wrestler media, and while the country is 9 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 3: struggling to deal with these, we listen to the stories 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:40,200 Speaker 3: of black and Latinos. Do United Latino Front, a cultural 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 3: renaissance organizing at the forefront of the movement. I'm Maria 12 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 3: ino Jossayan. 13 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: Decision making is so important to be able to put 14 00:00:51,840 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: your ego aside and in a way to reshape your 15 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: dreams as you go, and to be willing to listen 16 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,520 Speaker 1: to people that are trying to look out for you. 17 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,119 Speaker 3: From Futuro Media and BrX, It's Latino USA. I'm Maria Rosa. 18 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 3: Today a conversation between Isak and Istevan Ernandez, the first 19 00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: siblings to become principal dancers for the San Francisco Ballet. 20 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 3: Brothers Isac and Estevan Ernandez have performed on some of 21 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 3: the most prestigious stages in the world, but their journey 22 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,640 Speaker 3: to the top rank of their industry had a pretty 23 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 3: unique start. Originally from Guadalajara in western Mexico, Isaq and 24 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: Estevan's first ballet teacher was their dad, Ector, and their 25 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 3: first ballet studio was their own backyard. Ecto had a 26 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 3: fourteen year career as a professional ballet dancer in Mexico 27 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 3: and in the US, so he taught his eleventh children 28 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 3: in his own makeshift studio, but it was his son 29 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 3: Isak who was the first one to really fall in 30 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:12,680 Speaker 3: love with the art of ballet. 31 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 1: He was really exciting when we would do something new. 32 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 1: I remember the first time I did a triple tour, 33 00:02:19,400 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: my dad came out running to look for my mom 34 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,320 Speaker 1: so that she could see it happen. 35 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:28,240 Speaker 3: Isak's younger brother is Stevan, soon shared in that passion. 36 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: I would watch my siblings and my dad in our 37 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: backyard doing classes, and then through that I think something 38 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 1: sparked in me that made me want to also learn. 39 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,800 Speaker 3: Both brothers would go on to develop successful careers on stage, 40 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 3: even surpassing their mentor Stevan continued his education at the 41 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 3: Royal Ballet School in London. In twenty thirteen, he joined 42 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 3: the San Francisco Ballet, which is the oldest professional ballet 43 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 3: company in the US, and in twenty nineteen he was 44 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 3: promoted to principal dancer in the company. Isak continued his 45 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,919 Speaker 3: training at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. 46 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,079 Speaker 3: He's danced for the American Ballet Theater in New York City, 47 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 3: the San Francisco Ballet, the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, 48 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 3: and the English National Ballet in London. In twenty twenty two, 49 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 3: Isak returned to the San Francisco Ballet as a principal dancer, 50 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 3: where he joined Estevan, marking the first time in the 51 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:37,280 Speaker 3: San Francisco Ballet's ninety year history that siblings reached the 52 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:38,960 Speaker 3: rank of principal dancer. 53 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 1: I admire how good my brother became so quickly. I 54 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: had the luck also to have him around seeing me 55 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: perform in different places, and then it made me want 56 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:54,040 Speaker 1: to do. 57 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 4: It better as well. 58 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 3: Today, thirty three year old Isak twenty nine year old 59 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 3: is Steban sit down for a conversation at the San 60 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 3: Francisco ballet in the city's bustling Civic Center neighborhood. They 61 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 3: reflect on learning ballet from their father, the decisions young 62 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 3: dancers face, and their work expanding access to ballet in 63 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,719 Speaker 3: their native Mexico. Here's izach Ernandez starting the conversation with 64 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 3: his brother is Steban. 65 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: My parents got the house when it was not finished yet. 66 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: They set up in the garden this like circus tent, 67 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: and then it had a backyard that was covered with 68 00:04:39,480 --> 00:04:42,600 Speaker 1: wires to hang clothes, and then it had a slight 69 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: slow towards draining for the water, and my dad set 70 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: up a bar there. And then on the other side 71 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 1: they had sliding doors that would go into the dining. 72 00:04:54,279 --> 00:04:57,080 Speaker 4: Room, and we used to close those curtains to. 73 00:04:57,160 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: Use the windows mirrors as the reflect and then we 74 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 1: would move out all the loading out to the side, 75 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 1: and we would bring blightwood together tape it in the middle, 76 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: and we would do class there every day, and sometimes 77 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: when it was too hot, we could go on the 78 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: roof and hang some plastic bear or if it was raining, 79 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:20,000 Speaker 1: we would go inside to the living room and do 80 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:25,599 Speaker 1: class there. And when my father's former students from like 81 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,600 Speaker 1: twenty years before that heard that he was training us 82 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: in ballet. They decided to put together some money and 83 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: my dad to be able to redo the ballet studio. 84 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I definitely think having a more suitable space 85 00:05:38,600 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: for dance rather than our patio where we hang the 86 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: laundry really didn't make a difference. You're obviously older. 87 00:05:49,560 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 4: Than I am. 88 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 1: Obviously Obviously, Whenever you first started, I think I was 89 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 1: around four years old maybe, and so when I was 90 00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: around seven, I asked my dad to teach me as well. 91 00:06:00,640 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: I feel like by that point it had been what 92 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:06,479 Speaker 1: three years of you studying under him, and I feel 93 00:06:06,480 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: like most of my other siblings had been like, it's 94 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 1: not for me. Yeah, So it was really helpful when 95 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 1: you came and joined us. He kind of gave us 96 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:18,560 Speaker 1: continuity to the classes. But at the same time, I 97 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 1: know that it was hard, obviously because we were at 98 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 1: a place already after three years, and you were having 99 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,719 Speaker 1: to catch up, And it was amazing also to see 100 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,559 Speaker 1: how quickly you caught up. You know, at that point, 101 00:06:30,640 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: we had barely any access to any sort of videos 102 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: or any sort of context. Yeah, I remember that because 103 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,240 Speaker 1: the first time we got a VHS of a professional 104 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:50,719 Speaker 1: ballet company was abt Let, and also that other documentary 105 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: they made, Born to Be Wild. 106 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 4: Yeah, that's right. That was really funny. 107 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 1: That was mind blowing because up until then it was 108 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: my dad just describing steps and then trying to make 109 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 1: it happen. Yeah, making it up as he went, using 110 00:07:04,880 --> 00:07:09,240 Speaker 1: my dad's stories and his ideas of how ballet should be. 111 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: My dad sometimes would start class and then after two 112 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: combinations would give you a philosophical conversation that would take 113 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:24,560 Speaker 1: about an hour about how you needed to be responsible 114 00:07:24,560 --> 00:07:27,840 Speaker 1: for your actions, or how the world was not the 115 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: place that he thought it would be, or it could 116 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,200 Speaker 1: be anything really about politics or for morals, or so 117 00:07:35,280 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: many things. So it was really interesting period because I 118 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: had the chance to spend a lot of time with 119 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,640 Speaker 1: him and to get to know a little bit more 120 00:07:44,640 --> 00:07:48,160 Speaker 1: of his past and his life in New York. He 121 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,880 Speaker 1: lived for fourteen years in New York when he was 122 00:07:50,920 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 1: working for Dancity of Harlem, and then he had a 123 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: really rough life in general. I got to really learn 124 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:03,679 Speaker 1: about resilience a sense from his stories, and how dance 125 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: could also be so fulfilling to someone that they would 126 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: be willing to leave everything behind. I think my dad 127 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: was a very demanding teacher because he knew what he 128 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 1: was talking about, and he knew that, but actually he 129 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: said it from the beginning. He said, if you want 130 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:23,280 Speaker 1: to be a valid dancer, you have to be one 131 00:08:23,280 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: of the best. If not, you're going to really struggle, 132 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: and you're going to have a really hard time. And 133 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: it's a very competitive feel and the life of an 134 00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: average dancer can be quite tough. So he said, if 135 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: you really want to do this, you really need to 136 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: be good, and we really need to take this seriously. 137 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: When we decided with my parents that it was time 138 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,520 Speaker 1: to go and study abroad, I took it quite lightly. 139 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,360 Speaker 1: I thought I'll be back in a few weeks or months. 140 00:08:52,520 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 4: It didn't really. 141 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: Feel like that decision would mean that I would never 142 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 1: again live with my parents or under my parents in 143 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:04,360 Speaker 1: a sense, because from then on I was making all 144 00:09:05,120 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: my decisions professionally and personally, and I was all of 145 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 1: the side and exposed to the United States of America. 146 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: Teenage years in Philadelphia. Yeah, I definitely think that people 147 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: don't always tend to consider the amount of a big 148 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:26,680 Speaker 1: decision making that dance can often require of the people 149 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:30,600 Speaker 1: that pursue it, especially the people that pursue professionally. You 150 00:09:30,720 --> 00:09:33,640 Speaker 1: left home when you were what thirteen? I left home 151 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: when I was thirteen as well, And yeah, again, I 152 00:09:36,520 --> 00:09:38,440 Speaker 1: think at the time, like you say, it seems like 153 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,679 Speaker 1: something that is trivial. It's not really going to affect 154 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: the rest of your life in the way that it has. 155 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,160 Speaker 1: I also didn't think much about it. When I first 156 00:09:48,559 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: got that chance to go study and live abroad. I 157 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 1: was really excited about it. I was so yes, let's 158 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: do it. It was what I wanted to do. But then, yeah, 159 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:59,079 Speaker 1: I think when you look back at it, you definitely 160 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: realize that it was a much bigger decision than you thought. 161 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: I remember before accepting my scholarship to London, to the 162 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 1: Royal Balley School, I didn't even think about it. I 163 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 1: was just like, yes, that's what I'm going to do. 164 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 1: I want to see it through. But I remember having 165 00:10:15,600 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: that conversation with my mom, her being kind of torn 166 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:21,040 Speaker 1: about it, and she was like, are you really going 167 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: to go? Is this something that you really want to do? 168 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: She was like, you've already moved to Philadelphia. Now you're 169 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,720 Speaker 1: going to move to a different part of the world 170 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: where we're going to be truly responsible for yourself at 171 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,360 Speaker 1: age sixteen, you know, even though it's basically a boarding 172 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: school and you're responsible for yourself in every way. One 173 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 1: of the first things that I experienced there, and it 174 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,600 Speaker 1: was kind of like a big reality check, was first 175 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:50,480 Speaker 1: night at the dorms. You know, there's a big communal kitchen, 176 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 1: and I arrived a week late, so everybody was already 177 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 1: established and I was like, okay, so what time is 178 00:10:56,120 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: dinner someone coming? And are they going to make dinner everybody? 179 00:11:00,880 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: Or how does this work? I don't know, And so 180 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: everybody just cut their food from their lockers, made food, 181 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 1: and I was like, oh, I guess I'm supposed to 182 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:12,840 Speaker 1: do that too, So exactly went grocery shopping. It's like, okay, 183 00:11:13,600 --> 00:11:15,959 Speaker 1: I think pasta seems easy enough that at the time, 184 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: I was sorry, water first, water and pasta first together. 185 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: I cooked that pasta for maybe thirty minutes, and it 186 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:24,280 Speaker 1: was still hard. 187 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:30,719 Speaker 4: It's a reality check. Yeah, it's hard to take on that. 188 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:34,440 Speaker 1: And then you are growing as a person and learning 189 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:38,440 Speaker 1: survival skills at the same time that you have to 190 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,200 Speaker 1: be fully committed to the valid and it's a really 191 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 1: demanding schedule and you are constantly exhausted. I remember that 192 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 1: something similar happened to me here in San Francisco, but 193 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: for me was the amount of workload that I had 194 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: my first season. I couldn't even make it back to 195 00:11:57,240 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: my apartment. 196 00:11:57,840 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 4: I had to take minute breaks to sit down. 197 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,760 Speaker 1: I was living in Russian Hill here, and then I 198 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: would get home, and you're to do You're too tired 199 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: to cook, You're too tired to do anything, and you 200 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:14,400 Speaker 1: have to kind of find a structure and a routine 201 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: that allows you to continue to perform your best year. 202 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 1: And I think people don't usually see that side of yeah, 203 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:25,920 Speaker 1: or don't consider that side of life when you're making decisions. 204 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 4: You just want to be a start, yeah. 205 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,360 Speaker 1: And also the fact that these decisions are being made 206 00:12:30,400 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: by people that are developing as human beings, you know, 207 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 1: like seventeen eighteen. 208 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 4: Year old kids. 209 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: Literally that often they're not thought of as kids because 210 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:48,200 Speaker 1: they're maybe brilliant on stage. Decision making is so important 211 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: to be able to put your ego aside and in 212 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,959 Speaker 1: a way to reshape your dreams as you go, and 213 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:58,200 Speaker 1: to be willing to listen to people that are trying 214 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:00,080 Speaker 1: to look out for you. Yeah. But I also have 215 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:02,320 Speaker 1: to say I think one thing that I feel like 216 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: always made a difference was also the support around you 217 00:13:06,320 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: for the decisions that you make. I remember actually wanting 218 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: to leave school a year early before finishing my three 219 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: years of school over there in London. I remember when 220 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,319 Speaker 1: I started my second year, was like, let's say I'm 221 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:21,480 Speaker 1: ready to be a professional. I actually went to Russia 222 00:13:21,559 --> 00:13:24,560 Speaker 1: at seventeen years old. I went to Saint Petersburg to 223 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:28,440 Speaker 1: audition for the Marine Ski and for the Mikailovski Theater. 224 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 1: Ended up a whole week of not knowing what was 225 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,199 Speaker 1: going on because I didn't speak the language and nobody 226 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,880 Speaker 1: spoke English to me, and taking classes with the school 227 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,080 Speaker 1: and taking classes with the company, and everybody referring to 228 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: me as a kid, being like what is this kid 229 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,520 Speaker 1: doing here? And the one conversation that I had in 230 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:50,480 Speaker 1: English throughout my entire trip was with the director of 231 00:13:50,559 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 1: the Marine Ski, Judifateev, and he said, Okay, so I've 232 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 1: been hearing throughout the week that there's this Mexican kid 233 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 1: that is one thing to audition for us. And he 234 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: was like, Russia does not feel like it's a place 235 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: for you. You have to understand that I would offer 236 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,600 Speaker 1: you a job, but I don't want to limit you 237 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:14,160 Speaker 1: to doing only certain roles or certain things. I'm five seven, 238 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,839 Speaker 1: I'm not particularly considered tall in the ballet world, or 239 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: I think tall in. 240 00:14:18,720 --> 00:14:20,240 Speaker 4: Under any circumstances. 241 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:24,280 Speaker 1: But in Russia, you know, he said, all of the 242 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: ballerinas are very tall. He was like, I could hire 243 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:30,000 Speaker 1: you right now, but he was like, I'm going to 244 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 1: have to limit you to certain roles, soloist roles where yes, 245 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 1: you're going to get to dance, but you're never going 246 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: to get to fully develop your abilities to do the 247 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 1: things that you should get to do. So he said, 248 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:44,160 Speaker 1: find a place that is going to appreciate you for 249 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,960 Speaker 1: who you are and what you can bring to the company, 250 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: and dance everything. He said, dance everything that's as much 251 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: as you can, which I really appreciated it because I 252 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,560 Speaker 1: was like, ah, yeah, maybe I am being impatient also 253 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: about what it is that I need to do right now. 254 00:15:00,920 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: I think I need to see through my education and 255 00:15:04,120 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: finish my training as a dancer. I remember arriving in 256 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: many places and so of being like, you're here from Mexico, 257 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: but are you? 258 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 4: Are you sure you don't really look Mexican? 259 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 1: Excuse me, how am I supposed to look like, and 260 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: so it was definitely uncomfortable sometimes having to be the 261 00:15:27,600 --> 00:15:32,760 Speaker 1: only one, often also feeling responsible for representing a whole 262 00:15:32,760 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: country in a professional ballet school. But it was also 263 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: good whenever you were able to find people from similar 264 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: backgrounds other Spanish speaking countries. I had classmates from Colombia 265 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 1: from Spain, and even just being able to speak the 266 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: same language in a country that often wouldn't feel super 267 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: welcoming was really refreshing. And also feeling like that you 268 00:15:56,600 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: were not the only one that had gone through the 269 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:02,880 Speaker 1: challenges to get to these places was comforting and supported 270 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,840 Speaker 1: the idea you've been talking about that even though there 271 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: might not always be the opportunities so obviously present for 272 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 1: people that were, there's a will there. There often is 273 00:16:15,240 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: a way to make it happen. I took it in 274 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: a more aggressive way in a sense. I was really 275 00:16:22,400 --> 00:16:24,160 Speaker 1: happy to be the first one there, and I was 276 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:27,200 Speaker 1: really happy when people wouldn't believe me that I was Mexican, 277 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: and I was like, yeah, and I trained in my 278 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: backyard yeah as well. And I really enjoyed that, especially 279 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: when I went to Paris, for example, that it's this 280 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,960 Speaker 1: huge amazing school, and there is a code of conduct 281 00:16:40,960 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: that is really strict, and everybody has these uniforms. And 282 00:16:44,720 --> 00:16:48,360 Speaker 1: I realized earlier on that all of that was protocol, 283 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:52,440 Speaker 1: that it didn't influence you being a better dancer or not. 284 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: So I really understood that it was not about being 285 00:16:55,960 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: at a place like that, but it was down to 286 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,600 Speaker 1: individual work, work that you would put in every day. 287 00:17:01,720 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: And actually, I am not officially valid graduated from any organization. 288 00:17:07,359 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 1: That didn't prevent me from having a great career and 289 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: dancing for the best theaters around the world. And like 290 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:17,399 Speaker 1: my brother was saying, you start meeting people that share 291 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: some of the stories or challenges that you've faced, and 292 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: you really learned to appreciate companionship. And that's really important 293 00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: in the valid world, because I feel like Hollywood has 294 00:17:27,520 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: really damaged a reputation in that sense and how awful 295 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:35,560 Speaker 1: valid dancers are to each other, and that hasn't been 296 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:40,000 Speaker 1: my experience, and true excellence really has to be accomplished together. 297 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:44,240 Speaker 1: Like I am a really good dancer because I had 298 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:47,399 Speaker 1: really good colleagues and because we all wanted to be 299 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:50,600 Speaker 1: really good and we would learn from each other, and 300 00:17:50,640 --> 00:17:53,280 Speaker 1: one day somebody would come up with a new step 301 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: and we would be like, Oh, I'm going to come 302 00:17:55,560 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: up with my new step, or I'm going to do 303 00:17:57,880 --> 00:17:58,600 Speaker 1: your step and. 304 00:17:58,600 --> 00:17:59,800 Speaker 4: I'm going to add my step. 305 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: And that really is what makes a brilliant dancer, the 306 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:09,600 Speaker 1: ability to share, to see, to copy, to be inspired by. 307 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: And then at the end, I've loved to see how 308 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,080 Speaker 1: my generation has gone into having careers and doing all 309 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: of this, and then you realize that it is them 310 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: that will be running the organizations by the time you retire, 311 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: that they'll be teaching the new generations of dancers. 312 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:28,960 Speaker 4: So I really am. 313 00:18:28,880 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: Hopeful that the future of dance it's being shaped by 314 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 1: people that are passionate about it. 315 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,520 Speaker 4: That like the art. 316 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,719 Speaker 1: Form in Mexico, and there is a lot of people 317 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,359 Speaker 1: that believe if you're an artist, you're going to starve, 318 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: that if you're an artist, you are wasting your life, 319 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:49,359 Speaker 1: your time, etc. Yeah, it's like that's great as a hobby, 320 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: but what are you going to really do. We wanted 321 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:56,560 Speaker 1: to create and portray an idea that the arts are important, 322 00:18:56,600 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: and they are important too for social mobility. We were 323 00:18:59,800 --> 00:19:04,639 Speaker 1: able to create a platform that creates those opportunities. My 324 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,480 Speaker 1: dad and my mom started this project in Mexico of 325 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: free balot schools around our state and they have seven 326 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: locations and they have three hundred kids studying balid for free. 327 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:19,639 Speaker 1: So we made a deal with English National Ballet School 328 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: to come to Mexico to audition for free. For the 329 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: first time ever, we had over five hundred people apply 330 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: for the audition. They had the intention of giving five 331 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: scholarships and they gave out about nineteen scholarships. We also 332 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,880 Speaker 1: focused on skill development. We wanted people to learn how 333 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: to make costumes and to tos and make a living 334 00:19:43,280 --> 00:19:47,240 Speaker 1: out of it, and to learn about stage management and 335 00:19:47,880 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: even with the motion captioning and stop motion workshops all 336 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:56,119 Speaker 1: around creative industries and so we've had thousands of people 337 00:19:56,160 --> 00:19:58,879 Speaker 1: participating that. And what I loved about that it was 338 00:19:58,920 --> 00:20:03,960 Speaker 1: that all of it was free of charge. I do 339 00:20:04,080 --> 00:20:07,400 Speaker 1: think that, like they say, it takes a village. Yes, 340 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: we have worked very hard and developed ourselves as dancers 341 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,320 Speaker 1: and artists, and we have also developed our technique with 342 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,920 Speaker 1: the help of our colleagues or teachers, but also our parents, 343 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 1: are friends, the people that have supported the decisions that 344 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: you've made, or maybe also the ones that have said actually, 345 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: I think that was not right and. 346 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 4: Maybe you should try something else. 347 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,040 Speaker 1: All of those things have helped shape who we are 348 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: and that eventually gets put out on stage and you 349 00:20:34,119 --> 00:20:36,959 Speaker 1: see it. It's a recollection of everyone that has been 350 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: a part of our lives that eventually people get to 351 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:45,520 Speaker 1: see on stage. And I think that's what makes an artist. Essentially, 352 00:20:45,560 --> 00:20:48,280 Speaker 1: like you were saying, you are trying to build yourself 353 00:20:48,320 --> 00:20:51,560 Speaker 1: as a person, as an artist, and you need experience 354 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: for all that happened. And it's quite a visual art form, 355 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: and it's about creating feeling, and it's about exposing yourself, 356 00:21:00,040 --> 00:21:04,800 Speaker 1: about being able to be at a place that sounds 357 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:08,120 Speaker 1: a little bit weird, but that very few people can 358 00:21:08,160 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 1: achieve because it requires an understanding of space, a rhythm, coordination, strength, 359 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:18,679 Speaker 1: but also it requires you to expose yourself to another 360 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:22,119 Speaker 1: person to be able to create something on that moment 361 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: that exists only for a few seconds for the audience 362 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: to experience in the most personal way. 363 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 4: And now when I come back. 364 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:36,359 Speaker 1: To San Francisco, can I get to see achieve those 365 00:21:36,440 --> 00:21:39,879 Speaker 1: moments on a stage that go beyond technique and the 366 00:21:39,960 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: practicalities of dance and create this amazing experience. 367 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 4: I realize that we are incredibly. 368 00:21:46,119 --> 00:21:50,240 Speaker 1: Lucky to have shared this profession so closely and learned 369 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,399 Speaker 1: from each other and also live through it. 370 00:21:53,400 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 4: It's quite quite remarkable. 371 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,639 Speaker 3: That was Isac and Estevan Ernandez the first siblings to 372 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,760 Speaker 3: hold the top rank of principal dancers at the San 373 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 3: Francisco Ballet. This episode was produced by Elizabeth loandl Torres 374 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:29,760 Speaker 3: and edited by Andrea Lopez Gruzado. It was mixed by 375 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 3: gabriel Le Biez special thanks to Tamilo Garson. The Latino 376 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:39,800 Speaker 3: USA team also includes Marta Martinez, Mike Sargent, Daisy Contreres, 377 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:44,479 Speaker 3: Victoria Strada, Renaldo Leanos Junior, and Patris s Lubran, with 378 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 3: help from Grii mar Marquez. Our editorial director is Fernanda Santos. 379 00:22:49,320 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 3: Our director of engineering is Stephanie Lebau. Our senior engineer 380 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:57,600 Speaker 3: is Julia Caruso. Our associate engineer is jj Carubin. Our 381 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 3: marketing manager is Luis Lunap. Our theme music was composed 382 00:23:01,760 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 3: by Sean Ruinos. I'm your host and executive producer Maria 383 00:23:04,920 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 3: no Josa. Join us again on our next episode and 384 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,600 Speaker 3: in the meantime, find us on social media and remember 385 00:23:12,480 --> 00:23:14,560 Speaker 3: yes Este La Proxima. 386 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 5: Chao Latino USA is made possible in part by California Endowment, 387 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,280 Speaker 5: building a strong state by improving the health of all Californians, 388 00:23:27,840 --> 00:23:31,879 Speaker 5: The John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the 389 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:38,400 Speaker 5: Heising Simons Foundation unlocking knowledge, opportunity, and possibilities. More at 390 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:40,360 Speaker 5: hsfoundation dot org. 391 00:23:44,320 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: This is the way, and I will live my dream 392 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: and this is the way.