Genée Alumni

Andre Portasio

Bio

Andre was born in Brazil where he started his ballet training under the guidance of Natalia Barbara. In 1997 he was granted a scholarship to join the Escuela National de Cuba and in 1998, supported by the Nureyev Foundation, he relocated to London to finish his studies at the English National Ballet School.

Twice a medalist at the Genée (1998 and 1999), he was invited to join the English national Ballet where he performed to critical acclaim at a national and international level. Over 10 successful years he featured in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Cinderella, The Canterville Ghost, The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker, The Rite of Spring, Who Cares?, and many others.

Since retiring from dancing, Andre has taken the time to develop other skills and gain the necessary experience to pursue a career as a ballet teacher and as an arts manager. He has since worked in different capacities with organisations such as Sadler’s Wells Theatre, The Clore Leadership Programme, Candoco Dance Company, Southbank Centre, The Royal ballet School, English National Ballet and The Print Room.
Andre has an MA in Culture, Policy and Management from City University and is a graduate of the Royal Ballet and Royal Ballet School with a Diploma in Ballet in Education. Currently he acts as CEO, Producer and Director at ArtstreamingTV Ltd, a digital production company that provides live and on demand services for the cultural sector.

Genée experience

The Genée was the springboard into my professional career, it is certainly the place to see and be seen!

What did you learn from the Genée?

As a dance student you spend many hours in the studio learning about technique and building your strength and stamina, however, you rarely practice to perform under pressure and to control your nerves when in front of an audience. The competition provided me with the opportunity to build these skills and to improve my overall dance performance. Above all this, the exchange between competitors and all the other teaching styles offered, add to the whole experience.

What is your fondest memory from the competition?

Winning!

Do you have any advice for future candidates?

To be focused and dance your heart out!

Would you recommend the competition to others?

Yes, I would recommend the competition to other dance students out there as a great opportunity to learn and exchange with other talented dancers from all over the world.

How did the Genée benefit you personally or professionally?

The Genée was a springboard into my professional career. It solidified many years of training and opened new doors that allowed me to grow and develop both personally and professionally.