Favela dancer gets American dream

Dyhan Cardoso’s a Brazilian ballet dancer. The 19 year old is joining the Atlanta Ballet company in the USA. Cardoso began dancing at 6 years old. He followed his sister to ballet classes and waited for her. But he wanted to dance too. The teacher said there were only girls in the class. But Cardoso’s mother, Heloisa Helena, wanted him to try.

Heloisa Helena: "The teacher, you know, didn't really accept it because he was the only boy at school – at the ballet school. And, you know, let’s try. We decided to try. I felt like he really wanted it. And then, from his first day in the social project – he was about five to six years old – he hasn't stopped since."

Life wasn’t easy for Cardoso. Children in the community laughed at him. They thought he should play football and not do ballet. But he never stopped going to ballet classes. Cardoso studied dance at an academy in the rich part of his city. He was the only black boy in a class of white girls. But Cardoso never gave up on his dream.

Dyhan Cardoso: "At the beginning there was the issue of friends making fun. But as I was raised well, I responded and made fun of them back. So it didn't affect me, you know? I think we can't let it affect us. If it's what you want, if it's your dream, you need to go after it and achieve it, you know? Which is also a form of response."

Cardoso’s dream is coming true. He’s going to dance with the Atlanta Ballet. The company was looking for new dancers in his city. Cardoso tried. He was successful. The company director said he has excellent dance skills.

Dadyer Aguilera is Cardoso’s ballet teacher. He said Cardoso is very talented.

Dadyer Aguilera: "A privileged physique, he has a privileged foot. He has above average technical conditions. He can do very difficult steps with extraordinary quality and very refined aesthetic beauty." View Less