Luís Fernando,

the fifth child of a family of eight children, was born and raised in Complexo do Alemão, Rio de Janeiro, where violence is constant. Through a social project, he started surfing classes as they were considered more "suitable" for boys. After accompanying his younger sister in ballet classes, he was invited to participate in an experimental class and that was when he fell in love with dance. Afraid of prejudice, Luis convinced his parents to let him enter the ballet classes saying that it would give him more strength and balance on the surfboard. After a year studying ballet, he decided to quit surfing and dedicate himself to what he was determined to do.

Luís started dancing and trained at Projeto Vidançar @projetovidancar until he was 14 years old, when he entered the Escola Estadual de Dança Maria Olenewa @mariaolenewa , of the Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro @theatromunicipalrj. With no financial conditions to pay for the training expenses, Projeto Vidançar was the one who made it possible for him to pursue his dream. He was focused and decided that ballet could change the course of his life. Prejudice, racism, aggression and bullying were present in the young man's life during his studies of classical ballet, but Luís never gave up, family support and his passion for dance kept him going. Luís says the sacrifice paid off. After 3 years studying at Maria Olenewa, Luís Fernando was approved for the Bolshoi School in Brazil @escola_bolshoi. Unable to move and live in a new city by himself, Luís had support and was welcomed by a family that helped him until he graduated.

Perseverance, discipline and focus have always been in the life of Luís Fernando, who graduated from the Bolshoi School in Brazil and today is part of the Companhia Jovem Bolshoi Brazil. Luis dreams of being in a big company where he car keep growing even more artistically.
“I hope one day I have the chance to help young dancers that, like me, start at Projeto Vidançar at Complexo do Alemão.” says Luís Fernando.

Find him on Instagram: @luisxarte