Santiago Varga

Born in Colombia, Santiago began his artistic journey at the age of 15. He started his training at Ballet Anna Pavlova as part of a special program with the Julio Mario Santo Domingo Theater in Bogotá, “Alma en Movimiento,” where he refined his technical skills to become a professional dancer.

In 2018, he was awarded a full scholarship to Ballet Academy East in New York City, where he graduated in 2020. During his time at Ballet Academy East, he worked with renowned choreographers and coaches such as Darla Hoover, Lia Cirio, Alan Hineline, Silas Farley, Maina Gielgud, Ariel Rose, and others.

In 2021, Santiago joined Ballet de Barcelona as an apprentice. After a rewarding experience in Europe, he returned to the United States to share his knowledge with the dance community and continue growing as an artist.

He has been cast in leading and featured roles in performances such as Valse Fantaisie by George Balanchine, Romanza by Alan Hineline, In Excelsis by Silas Farley, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream by George Balanchine, where he performed as a demi-soloist in the beloved role of Puck.

Since returning to the U.S., Santiago has worked with several companies, where he has stood out for his strong technique and captivating performances. In 2022, he was invited to perform as a soloist in The Nutcracker with Brooklyn Ballet, dancing the roles of Candy Cane and Waltz of the Flowers. He later joined Ballet des Amériques, performing principal roles in White Plains and in various contemporary productions. He has also performed with the Staten Island Ballet during their 2023–2024 season.

Currently, Santiago is exploring new dance forms with East Coast Contemporary Ballet and fjkdance, specifically focusing on neoclassical and contemporary dance.