A Dominican dancer in New York

His love for this artistic branch was born thanks to the impulse of his parents. They motivated both him and his sister to do something important for their lives.

His name is Charles Rosario and he summarizes that experience with brief and confident phrases: “My parents didn’t want us to be on the street or doing nothing at home. For this reason, from the age of two he was already in piano classes and in different choirs and opera, as well as participating in commercials.

Rosario made her first artistic presentation with the Ballet Hispánico company, who would later grant her the Futuro Scholarship.

She has good memories of those times: “My first presentation was with the company where I started my classes and they let me know that I might do this and that this career might open the doors to the world in different ways.”

At 19 years of age, the dancer, born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, to Dominican parents, explains that, despite not growing up on the Caribbean island, his memory treasures the best memories lived in the Dominican Republic: “Scooping cocoa and running following of the chickens.”

“My father is from San Francisco de Macorís and my mother from Santiago,” he revealed, at the same time, he stressed that his father is a peasant and that is part of his culture, which has been mixed in his dance and identity.

“A Dominican representation”

His dream is to ensure that when they see his face on stage, they also distinguish a Dominican representation: “My goal is that when I stand in front of an audience, they recognize my face, and that this gesture towards me is a symbol of putting our flag more aloft”.

In his reflections, the Dominican culture appears as an essential element in his dances and in the way he executes each movement –he says- “When classical music sounds, I only hear a güira, and that is part of us”.

He pointed out that Latin music has value and that the very diverse genres that are heard today can also be heard in ballet concerts.

He values ​​the importance of his origin: “Being Latino is viral, urban movements are coming to the United States and I want to dance with these sounds. Being Latino is trending, but it is also my identity”.

“I want to be big”

Charles Rosario is a professional at what he does. But his ambition is to grow and learn something new every day, as well as keep up with what is experienced in the artistic world. He aspires more.

“I had not seen a Dominican do this route, that’s why I want to continue living new experiences, I want to be great” -he said and continued- “I want to continue growing professionally, but I also need to be that medium that can open the doors to other compatriots with talent”.

Trained in different types of dances, from classical, flamenco, son, guaracha, habanera, African, modern and contemporary, he commented that the Cuban choreographer Carlos Acosta is his main example to follow in the world of dance.

“He is a model, an icon for me.”

Being a man has been his biggest obstacle

Certain professions are usually given sex, limiting the free choice of the area in which each person wishes to develop.

In the world of dance, especially in the discipline of Ballet, stereotypes continue in the 21st century and without a sign that society can accept men can dance to the sound of a melody, without ceasing to be a man.

Charles Rosario is no stranger to this reality, which is why he says “Being a man is one of the biggest obstacles I have encountered in the art world.”

“There are very few men who are interested in this part of the art, however, there are others who are very open and society classifies them because they believe that dancing affects masculinity.”

He added that having this stigma inhibits men from being free in art.

“Dance is connection and I am art”

With full confidence, he affirms that: “Dancing is a connection, it is something that subjects the public to imagine and feel. He is very weak and for me, being an adult is something I forget while I dance. In other words, this is art.”

According to him, art is a way of working the muscle of imagination and creativity, something that many do not feel or understand, but which is their way of life.

It is exciting to witness how they have the power to make a person forget everything that happened before entering the theater to take them to a different world through dance.

He considers it something out of the ordinary: “Art live, it is live, it cannot be replicated, even if it does the same thing every day in different environments, as it appears in the theater, it appears in the theater”.

“At the end of the day, what happens on stage is art and that’s what I feel. Freedom to express myself, to carry a message and connect with people”.

A recognition

Applause is the most noble and simple recognition that the artist receives from his public. Charles Rosario, already lives and enjoys this show in his own flesh when a presentation ends.

“There is nothing more satisfying than being able to change the energy of those who are in front of a stage: feeling that final applause is gratifying!”, he expressed.

“You have to hit it hard”

Rosario also encouraged young people who want to venture into the world of dance or any other branch, to pay attention to their minds and open their hearts.

“Everything starts in your mind. If you have a goal, you have to click, you have to hit hard to achieve it”.

scholarships

For his professional training he has received different scholarships, among these are:

“Full tuitions cholarship American Ballet Theatre Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis”, (2021-2022); “La Guardia Father Fame Award, (2021); National Youngarts Winner in modern dance, (2021).

Presentations

His career has led him to get to know different cultures around the world, among the countries that he has had presentations are: Panama, Cuba, Mexico, Barbados, as well as several states in the US.