Jorge Urbina

Jorge Urbina is from Alpha, Illinois. He started dancing under the direction of Arlene Smith and attended summer intensives with the Milwaukee Ballet and the Boca Ballet Theatre. Jorge attended Butler University, where he continued his training in classical ballet, Pas de deux, modern, and Jazz. At Butler, he performed soloist roles as well as some principal roles in Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Piazzola Caldera, The Four Temperaments, and Cinderella, among others. While at Butler, Jorge also toured Eastern Europe with Butler Ballet under the direction of Marek Cholewa, performing in Warsaw, Poznań, Kraków, and Lodz, Prague, Vienna, and Salzburg. After graduating in 2018, he began his professional career at American Repertory Ballet, where he performed principal, soloist, and corps de ballet roles in Tears of the Moon, Airs, Coppélia, Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, and original works with resident choreographers. Jorge joined the Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre in 2019 and has had the pleasure to perform in NWABTs Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Otra Vez, and many resident choreographer new works.

Get to know the dancer

Where are you from?

Illinois

In one sentence, describe your "discovery" of ballet. Or, what was your pathway to ballet?

I watched a Nutcracker video of Baryshnikov on youtube. 

Do you remember the first ballet you ever saw? What was it and how did it affect you?

The first ballet I saw was Swan Lake and I was moved by the beauty of the music. 

What do you like to do outside of dance (hobbies, interests, etc.)?

I like hiking and spending time with friends.

What are some of your other talents? Let's make this one interesting!

I have a talent for learning new languages and I also play a few instruments.

What are some of your indulgences?

I love smoothies and chocolate 

What is your favorite role that you have performed? Have not performed?

My favorite role that I have performed is Basil from Don Quixote. One day I hope to perform Albrecht from Giselle.

Do you have any pre-performance rituals?

I like to listen to my music while I prepare for a show.

If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?

I would be an Architect or a professor.

How do you spend your summer breaks?

I usually like to keep busy with work, artistic gigs, and taking some time to spend with family.

If I could visit any country in the world it would be….

Japan.

What does Northwest Arkansas mean to you? Why is it special or different from other places you've danced/trained?

Arkansas is special to me because of the nature. There is so much natural beauty here.

What are three things people might not know about you?

1) I am the oldest out of eight males.

2) I was born in Honduras.

3) I want to travel as much as I can.