Leonardo Brito is a dancer who grew up in Saquarema, a beach town located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Though he was always artistic and enjoyed singing and dancing, he never imagined that he would become a professional dancer. “Dance just kind of happened and started it as a hobby,” he says. “But if I am honest, I think dance just showed me that I could reach spaces that weren’t accessible to me before and that’s why I kept on doing it. Now dance is something I can’t live without. I cry, I celebrate, I mourn, I seduce, and I am seduced through dance.”
After completing his studies at the Ailey School, Brito joined the Alvin Ailey II company and later joined Ballet Hispánico, which he distinguishes as one of America’s cultural treasures and the largest Latinx cultural organization in the United States. Brito’s journey to get to where he is now wasn’t always easy. After receiving a scholarship to study at the Ailey School, a politician from his hometown promised to help him with his finances in the city. However, after just two months, the politician stopped answering Brito’s calls and messages, leaving him to figure out how to make ends meet on his own. He took a job as a dishwasher and delivery person at a restaurant, working until 2 a.m. and then attending full days of dance classes starting at 8 a.m. The language barrier was also an issue for Brito, as he spoke very little English when he first arrived in the United States in 2016.
Despite the challenges, Brito persevered and was able to achieve his dream of becoming a professional dancer. “To study dance in New York City was a total dream for me and I wasn’t going to let the fact that my family couldn’t financially support me here stop me from living this dream,” he says. He credits his friends and colleagues with helping him along the way, saying, “I met some incredible people in this city who helped me to keep going and that I am forever grateful for.”
Space courtesy of 154 Scott / Happier, Brooklyn, New York.
Michael Jackson, Jr. is a dancer who grew up in New Orleans and Washington D.C. He initially wanted to be a doctor, but ended up discovering his passion for dance at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington D.C. at the age of 14. After completing high school, Jackson became a professional dancer at 18 and has danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, and Philadanco. In 2011, he joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.
Jackson’s love of dance is inspired by music, and he enjoys dancing to a wide range of styles. He advises aspiring queer dancers to find confidence in themselves before sharing their talents with the world, as the dance industry can be competitive and difficult. Jackson admits that he struggles with vulnerability and anxiety when it comes to sharing his dancing with others, but he continues to work on overcoming these challenges. His advice to new dancers is to “be grounded with who you are and what you bring to the table. That will not only propel you but sustain you in this overly saturated field. Know who you are and love all of it!”
In his free time, Jackson enjoys dancing and spending time with his younger brother Nicholas. His favorite music to dance to is the soulful sounds of Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding.
Space courtesy of 154 Scott / Happier, Brooklyn, New York.
