Rafael Mateo Lloret

Born in Gandia, Valencia (Spain) Rafael started Spanish dancing when he was very young – at only 3yrs. He trained at a local academy before joining the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza Mariemma in Madrid in 2023.

Rafael: “Before even meeting Altea at a summer intensive in Valencia this year, all that I had heard about JBA really appealed to me. The more I found out about it, the more I believed it to be the perfect program for dancers who have just finished studying and preparing themselves for a professional career. I am certain that I will really enjoy the working process at JBA, both personally and professionally. I hope to develop as a dancer, to gain stage experience and to learn many different dance styles which will help me in the future.”

As far as the future is concerned, Rafael is ambitious and there are many different things that he wishes to try out. But first and foremost he wishes to continue dancing as long as possible and to explore the work of many choreographers. He admires the choreographic language of Leon&Lightfoot and Jacopo Godani would love someday to dance works by William Forsythe, Marco Goecke, and Nacho Duato. 

He aims eventually to explore the choreographic process himself, discovering movement and ideas.

At the present time, Rafael hasn’t much time for hobbies, because he is so focused on his artistic career. However in the future he hopes to do more with fashion and communication which are his two other passions.

And in far distant future? Maybe to teach and to have his own dance school.