AN ELITE DANCER FROM GUADALAJARA TRIUMPHS AT THE TOP OF THE INTERNATIONAL BALLET WORLD

By: Editorial Staff / TEN / Culture / World

The world of international classical dance boasts a top-tier talent who continues to solidify his reputation on Europe’s most demanding stages.

Mexican dancer Enrique Bejarano Vidal recently participated in a gala featuring star performers alongside the virtuoso Carlos Acosta at the iconic Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, thereby reaffirming the technical and artistic stature he has achieved in the world of ballet.

Bejarano Vidal’s career began at an early age, combining flamenco with classical ballet. At age 15, he was honing his technique at the “Fernando Alonso” National Ballet School of Cuba in Havana, an institution renowned for its academic rigor.

That same year, after winning the Grand Prix in New York, he became the first Mexican dancer to receive a full scholarship to train at the Académie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco, having previously trained at prestigious institutions such as the Washington Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in New York.

His joining the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2021—at age 18 and fresh from Monaco—marked the beginning of a meteoric rise in his career.

In 2024, he was promoted to the rank of Soloist, becoming the first Mexican to hold this title in the prestigious British company; the following year, he was promoted to Principal Soloist under the artistic direction of Carlos Acosta. This advancement has allowed him to take on leading roles in iconic works such as La Fille mal gardée, Cinderella, Don Quixote, and George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations.

His close professional relationship with Carlos Acosta has been fundamental to his development. The Cuban virtuoso has been a key mentor, propelling his career and giving him the opportunity to take on high-level responsibilities from a very young age. This trust has led to prestigious international engagements, including collaborations with Royal Ballet principal dancer Fumi Kaneko—with whom he performed the pas de deux from Don Quixote—as well as a special invitation from Roberto Bolle to dance Diana and Actaeon at his star-studded gala.

He also made his debut on the stage of the Royal Opera House alongside Acosta, performing The Nutcracker.

A native of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and the son of Edgar Bejarano—who has always supported his children’s academic and professional careers— this young dancer from Guadalajara is at the forefront of an outstanding generation of Mexican artists who are currently dancing with world-class companies such as the English National Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and the ABT, thereby placing Mexico among the elite of the international dance world.

His career has been recognized at international competitions, where he has won awards that distinguish him as a promising young artist, both in Italy and in Edinburgh.

For Enrique Bejarano himself, these achievements represent the result of tireless effort and a source of great national pride: “It’s an enormous pleasure to share the stage with great stars of dance and to represent my country as the first Mexican to join this company. Participating in the Royal Opera House gala is incredible; dancing there has always been a dream, and doing so as a guest artist is a resounding success and a great honor,” he said.