Juan Guillermo Arango Villa was born in Medellin, Colombia, where he first started his ballet training at the age of 8 at Andrea Wolff Ballet under the direction of Andrea Wolff. By 9 years old, he took part in a local summer intensive at his home studio, learning the Miami City Ballet School curriculum with an international teacher and faculty member Kim Sonderegger.
Juan was offered a full scholarship for the Miami City Ballet Summer Intensive program in 2010, where he went continuously for the next several years. During his time in Miami, he had the opportunity to work with many internationally proclaimed dancers and directors such as Edward Vilella, Lourdes Lopez and Arantxa Ochoa. He was ecstatic when he became an honorary full scholarship recipient to join the pre-professional division in 2016 and graduated in 2020. During his time in Florida, he also attended the Orlando Ballet Summer intensive in 2016.
Juan has had the opportunity to perform multiple Corps de Ballet, Soloist and Principal Roles in major productions such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, The Sleeping Beauty, Iuvenalis, Carnival of the animals, Balabille, Coppelia, Divertimento N-15, Faena Arts Dance with Me, Le Petite Dance, Napoli, Serenade, Stars and Stripes, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Jewels.
During his career thus far, he has had the opportunity to work with some of the most acclaimed choreographers such as Arthur Saint Leon, August Bournonville, Geta Constantinescu, Pam Tonowitz, Durante Verzola, Eriberto Jiménez, Jessica Gatinea, Joan Latham, Michel Fokine, Ariel Rose, Marius Petipa and George Balanchine.
He joined Ballet Pensacola as a Principal Dancer, under the artistic direction of Darren McIntyre in the 2021-2022 season. During his first season, Juan performed the roles of Jonathan Harker in Dracula, Karl/The Nutcracker Prince/The Cavalier in The Nutcracker, and The Scarecrow and The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, Puck/Oberon in A Midsummer Nights Dream & The Fairy Doll Pas de Trois. In addition, he performed in Mr. McIntyres' new innovative creations Odyssey, Lights Will Guide you Home, Liberty Bell, Fleet Week and Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Winter, Violin Concerto.
Juan has been recognized by the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) as an artist of extraordinary ability.
“After seeing one of my teachers dancing Stars and Stripes male variation in one of my summer intensive classes, I realized all the strength and coordination perfectly balanced and combined with the softness and purity that a male dancer requires on every single step! After that day I always wanted to see myself attain this within myself, and have that same feeling of pride I had that day I was inspired when I saw a male principal danseur for the first time.”
Place of Birth: Medellin-Antioquia, Colombia
One Word to Describe Why I Dance: "Inner-peace"
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Role Danced: The Nutcracker Prince (The Nutcracker)
Dream Role: Diamonds Lead (Jewels)
Favorite Choreographer: George Balanchine
Favorite Traditional Ballet: Theme & Variations
Favorite Cuisine / Dish: Sushi
Favorite Hobby: Playing Videogames
Fun Fact About Me: I love motorcycles
What Would You Like the Audience/Community to Gain from Your Performances: I would like to connect with the community of Pensacola in a personal way! It is an amazing city with amazing people and a lot of history and art appreciation. Those two things have amazed me so much that I just want to be able to share the best part of me with them through my performances.
