Yosvani Ramos

Ramos was born to Juan Ramos Barba and Gisela Fontes Lopez in Camagüey, Cuba. He studied dance at the Vocational School of Arts there from 1989, and in 1994 won the gold medal at the Vignale Festival of Dance. He was then admitted to study ballet at the Cuban National Ballet School under the direction of Ramona de Sáa, graduating in 1997.

In September 1997 Ramos joined the Jeune Ballet de France, a French touring company. Started by Robert Berthier with the assistance of Rosella Hightower, the dancers trained for three months and toured for nine - a Professional Year type of training. Ramos remained with the company for two years, leaving in April 1999 for the Paris Opera Ballet. He performed Nureyev's Swan Lake as a surnuméraire (extra member of the corps de ballet).

Ramos was invited to join English National Ballet as a soloist in August 1999 by Derek Deane, and was promoted to senior soloist in 2000, then principal in 2003 after a performance of Coppélia at the Sadler's Wells Theatre.

The Australian Ballet had only two male principals at the end of 2007, and artistic director David McAllister invited Ramos to join the company as a principal artist from February 2008.{{cite web|title=Aussie Dance News!|url=http://www.danceinforma.com/News_Dance_Informa_News_Auditions2.html|work=Dance Informa}} He also had many opportunities to perform as a guest artist outside Australia, frequently taking The Australian Ballet's Leanne Stojmenov as his partner. Ramos left The Australian Ballet in April 2013.{{cite web|last=Tulk|first=Jasmin|title=Farewell Yosvani|url=http://www.behindballet.com/farewell-yosvani/|work=Behind Ballet|publisher=The Australian Ballet|access-date=1 May 2013}}

After leaving The Australian Ballet, Ramos danced around the world on a freelance basis. He debuted as James in La Sylphide with Bangkok City Ballet in Thailand in July 2013 and also performed at the 18th International Ballet Festival in Miami in September 2013.

He spent the 2014-15 season with Cincinnati Ballet as a principal dancer, then joined Colorado Ballet as a principal dancer for the 2015-16 season.

He remained in Denver for the 2016-17 season, but during rehearsals for "The Nutcracker" in November 2016, tore an Achilles tendon. By June 2017, after surgery and intensive rehabilitation, he was back in the studio, anticipating a return to the stage early in the 2017-18 season. Ramos duly returned to the stage in Dracula in October 2017.

Ten years after leaving English National Ballet, Ramos worked with his former artistic director Derek Deane again, reprising the role of Romeo in Deane's Romeo and Juliet, which Deane set on Colorado Ballet.

In April 2023, he both debuted the title role in George Balanchine's The Prodigal Son and retired as a professional dancer.

In addition to freelancing for a time, Ramos has performed as a guest with companies including Staatstheater Wiesbaden (Germany), HNK Split Ballet (Croatia), Teatro Massimo Vittorio Emanuele (Palermo, Italy), Compañía Nacional de Danza (Mexico), and [https://balletdemonterrey.com/ Ballet de Monterrey (Mexico)].

• 1994 : Gold Medal Vignale Danza in Italy
• 1995 : Grand Prix and Best Couple with Anette Delgado, International Ballet Festival of Havana, Cuba
• 1995 : Gold Medal, Bento Dance, Brazil
• 1995 : Grand Prix, International Ballet Competition, Montevideo, Uruguay
• 1996 : Silver Medal (junior male), Best Couple (junior) with Anette Delgado, Varna International Ballet Competition, Bulgaria{{cite web|last=Betancourt|first=Jose Luis Estrada|title=Timida y magnifica|url=http://desde-cuba.blogspot.com.au/2008/03/timida-y-magnifica.html|work=Desde Cuba|publisher=blogspot|access-date=25 October 2012}}
• 1998 : Gold Medal, Joinville Dance Festival, Brazil
• 1998 : Silver Medal (junior male), USA International Ballet Competition, Jackson, Mississippi{{cite web|title=1998 Medalists |url=http://www.usaibc.com/2014-competition/dignitaries/medalists/98-medalists/ |work=List of USA International Ballet Competition medallists |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730043320/http://www.usaibc.com/2014-competition/dignitaries/medalists/98-medalists/ |archive-date=July 30, 2015 }}
• 1998 : Gold Medal (junior male), Paris International Dance Competition{{cite web|last=Boccadoro|first=Patricia|title=Paris International Dance Competition|url=http://www.culturekiosque.com/dance/reviews/rheconc.htm|work=Culturekiosque|access-date=25 October 2012|archive-date=7 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607211503/http://www.culturekiosque.com/dance/reviews/rheconc.htm|url-status=dead}}
• 1999 : Silver Medal (senior division, classical ballet, male), Nagoya International Ballet Competition, Japan.{{cite web|title=1999 winners|url=http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~ibc00ngo/winner_99.html|work=Japan International Ballet Competition website|access-date=25 October 2012}}

After graduating from the Cuban national school, Ramos toured with the Jeune Ballet de France, both domestically and internationally - Africa, South America, and St Petersburg, Russia. The company performed classical excerpts and commissioned contemporary works. Ramos' roles included pas de deux from La Fille mal Gardée, Harlequinade, Le Corsaire, Flower Festival at Genzano, The Flames of Paris, Stars and Stripes, Don Quixote, and Variations for Four.

As a surnuméraire (short term contract corps de ballet member) with Paris Opera Ballet, Ramos danced in Nureyev's Swan Lake.

At the invitation of Derek Deane, Ramos joined English National Ballet as a soloist, eventually being promoted to principal in 2003. Roles with ENB included:

• Franz in Coppélia{{cite news|last=Mackrell|first=Judith|title=Charm and the Maiden|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2000/jan/17/dance.artsfeatures|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 October 2012|location=London|date=26 April 2002}}
• Prince, Nutcracker Doll{{cite web|last=Watts|first=Graham|title=English National Ballet in The Nutcracker, London Coliseum|url=http://londondance.com/articles/reviews/the-nutcracker-at-london-coliseum-536/|work=Londondance.com|access-date=25 October 2012}} in The Nutcracker
• Poet in Les Sylphides
• Blue Bird in The Sleeping Beauty
• lead man, Mazurka in Études
• Albrecht, peasant pas de deux in Giselle
• lead man in Balanchine's Who Cares?{{cite news|last=Mackrell|first=Judith|title=English National Ballet at the Royal Opera House|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2002/jun/01/dance.artsfeatures|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 October 2012|location=London|date=18 December 2002}}
• lead man in Balanchine's Square Dance
• Jean de Brienne in grand pas from Raymonda
• pas de deux from Le Corsaire{{cite news|last=Mackrell|first=Judith|title=ENB Mixed Bill|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2001/jan/17/dance.artsfeatures?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487|work=The Guardian|access-date=25 October 2012|location=London|date=26 April 2002}}
• Romeo, Mercutio in Nureyev's Romeo and Juliet
• Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio in Deane's arena Romeo and Juliet{{cite news|last=Parry|first=Jann|title=There is nothing like a Dane|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2005/jun/26/dance|work=The Observer|access-date=25 October 2012|location=London|date=26 June 2005}}
• Siegfried in Swan Lake
• White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland
• Prince in Cinderella
• Kay (created role) in The Snow Queen{{cite news|last=Brown|first=Ismene|title=The Snow Queen: a few icicles short of a magic trip|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/drama/3668635/The-Snow-Queen-a-few-icicles-short-of-a-magic-trip.html|work=The Telegraph (UK)|access-date=25 October 2012|location=London|date=19 October 2007}}
• Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes (Mark Morris)

Invited to join the company as a principal, Ramos expanded his repertoire to include

• Prince Siegfried in Graeme Murphy's Swan Lake{{cite news|last=Roberts|first=Jo|title=Our man from Havana|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/arts/our-man-from-havana/2008/02/12/1202760296242.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1|work=The Age|access-date=25 October 2012|location=Melbourne|date=13 February 2008}}
• Des Grieux in Macmillan's Manon{{cite web |last=Angear |first=Cheryl |title=Cupcakes and Conversation with Yosvani Ramos, Principal, The Australian Ballet |date=21 November 2012 |url=http://balletnews.co.uk/cupcakes-and-conversation-with-yosvani-ramos-principal-the-australian-ballet/|work=Ballet News |access-date=21 November 2012}}
• Doctor/Beloved Officer in Graeme Murphy's Nutcracker: The Story of Clara
• Basilio in Gaisina's Don Quixote{{cite news|last=Smethurst|first=Chloe|title=Don Quixote|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/don-quixote-20110721-1hqqp.html|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 October 2012}}
• Basilio in Nureyev's Don Quixote{{cite web|last=Potter|first=Michelle|title='Don Quixote': The Australian Ballet|url=http://michellepotter.org/reviews/don-quixote-the-australian-ballet|work=Michelle Potter ... on dancing|access-date=1 May 2013}}
• Prince in Peter Wright's The Nutcracker
• Prince Désiré in Stanton Welch's The Sleeping Beauty
• Camille in Hynd's The Merry Widow
• Mercutio in Murphy's Romeo and Juliet
• Goro in Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly
• Benno in Stephen Baynes' Swan Lake
• Red Knight in de Valois' Checkmate
• Lead man in Balanchine's Ballet Imperial
• Mazurka in Lifar's Suite en Blanc
• Welch's Divergence
• Petrushka in Fokine's Petrushka
• Principal man in Baynes' Beyond Bach
• Massine's Les Présages
• Macmillan's Concerto (first movement){{cite web|last=Lawson|first=Valerie|title=British ballet at its best - and one from the museum|url=http://dancelines.com.au/british-ballet-at-its-best-and-one-from-the-museum/|work=Dancelines|access-date=25 October 2012}}
• Duato's Por vos muero
• Ratmansky's Scuola di ballo

and continued to dance

• Franz in Coppélia{{cite news|last=Sykes|first=Jill|title=Coppelia|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/coppelia-20100505-ualk.html|work=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=25 October 2012}}{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Deborah|title=Living doll makes the heart sing|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/living-doll-makes-the-heart-sing/story-e6frg8n6-1225862734044|work=The Australian|access-date=25 October 2012|date=6 May 2010}}
• Albrecht in Giselle{{cite web|last=Brookes |first=Darren |title=Ballet: The unbearable lightness of being "Giselle" |url=http://reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2672 |work=Media Culture |access-date=25 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320064514/http://www.reviews.media-culture.org.au/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2672 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 }}
• The Poet in Les Sylphides{{cite news|last=Brissenden|first=Alan|title=Electrifying leaps of the imagination|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/arts-arc/electrifying-leaps-of-the-imagination/story-e6frg8po-1111119000929|work=The Australian|access-date=25 October 2012|date=2 March 2009}}

After his last performance as Basilio in Rudolf Nureyev's Don Quixote with The Australian Ballet on April 24, 2013, Ramos spent some time dancing freelance all over the world.

He made his debut as James in August Bournonville's La Sylphíde with Bangkok City Ballet in Thailand in July 2013, danced Giselle second act pas de deux and Lizzie MacKenzie's Adherence.Process at the International Ballet Festival in Miami, USA in September 2013, guested as the Prince in The Nutcracker with various companies in the USA in December 2013 and performed in ballet galas in London, Cork, Denver and Vienna as well as teaching in England and the USA.

• Floating Forward (Heather Britt)
• Peter Pan in Septime Webre's Peter Pan
• Cotton Candy Cavalier, Poodle in The Nutcracker (Victoria Morgan){{cite web|last1=Lyman|first1=David|title=Review: This 'Nutcracker' anything but routine|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/theater/2014/12/21/cincinnati-ballet-nutcracker/20725595/|website=Cincinnati.com|access-date=9 February 2016|quote=Ramos is hilarious, a consummate professional}}
• The Joker in ALICE (in Wonderland) (Septime Webre)
• Mozart's Requiem (Adam Hougland)
• Two Soloists in Yuri Possokhov's Classical Symphony{{cite web|last1=Lyman|first1=David|title=Is ballet's 'Director's Choice' season's best?|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/arts/2015/05/09/directors-choice-cincinnati-ballet/27047399/|website=Cincinnati.com|access-date=9 February 2016|date=20 May 2015}}

• Don Quixote pas de deux (Marius Petipa)
• James in Bournonville's La Sylphíde
• Jonathan Harker in Michael Pink's Dracula{{cite web|last1=Jaffe|first1=Mark|title=After a ruptured Achilles, a lead in “Dracula” resurrects his ballet career from the dead|url=http://theknow.denverpost.com/2017/09/29/yosvani-ramos-ruptured-achilles-dracula-colorado-ballet-2017/159936/|website=The Denver Post|access-date=14 October 2017|date=29 September 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Bows|first1=Bob|title=Dracula|url=http://www.coloradodrama.com/dracula6.html|website=Colorado Drama.com|access-date=14 October 2017}}
• Romeo in Derek Deane's Romeo and Juliet{{cite web|last1=Bows|first1=Bob|title=Romeo and Juliet|url=http://www.coloradodrama.com/romeo_juliet7.html|website=Colorado Drama|access-date=13 March 2018}}
• Nutcracker Prince and the Sugar Plum Cavalier in Martin Fredmann's The Nutcracker{{cite web|last1=Bows|first1=Bob|title=The Nutcracker|url=http://www.coloradodrama.com/nutcracker15.html|website=Colorado Drama.com|access-date=9 February 2016}}
• Principal couple in his own short ballet Divertimento Pour Six
• The Dodo Bird,{{cite web|last1=Rinaldi|first1=Ray Mark|title=Colorado Ballet's "Alice" a colorful, acid trip of a ballet|url=http://www.denverpost.com/theater/ci_29541312/colorado-ballet-alice-colorful-acid-trip-ballet|website=The Denver Post|access-date=24 February 2016|date=20 February 2016|quote=Yosvani Ramos was a shiny, dazzling Dodo Bird}} the Joker, Lewis Carroll, and the Mad Hatter in ALICE (in Wonderland) (Septime Webre)
• Pas de Six in Dominic Walsh's Wolfgang (for Webb)
• The Devil (El Diablo) in Lorita Travaglia's The Angel of Buenos Aires
• Prince Siegfried and Benno{{cite web|last1=Werle|first1=Jane E.|title=A Luminous Swan Lake|url=http://presentingdenver.org/the-commentary-corner/a-luminous-swan-lake/|website=Presenting Denver|access-date=17 October 2016}} in Swan Lake (Amanda McKerrow and John Gardner after Marius Petipa)
• Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty (Petipa){{cite web |title=Colorado Ballet Opens Season With ‘Sleeping Beauty’ |url=https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/10/04/colorado-ballet-opens-season-with-sleeping-beauty/ |website=CBS Denver |publisher=CBS Broadcasting Inc |access-date=11 April 2019}}
• Blue couple in Brief Fling (Twyla Tharp){{cite web |last1=Selstad Bosch |first1=Briana |title=Colorado Ballet’s Spring Fling |url=http://presentingdenver.org/the-commentary-corner/colorado-ballets-spring-fling/ |website=Presenting Denver |publisher=Presenting Denver |access-date=11 April 2019}}
• Professor Marvel, The Wizard, Guard With Green Whiskers in The Wizard of Oz (Septime Webre)
• Male Dark Angel in Serenade (Balanchine)
• Estuans Interius in Carmina Burana (Fernand Nault)
• Prodigal Son in The Prodigal Son (Balanchine)

The Poet in Les Sylphides, included in The Australian Ballet's triple bill [https://web.archive.org/web/20111116122755/http://shop.abc.net.au/products/firebird-and-other-legends-with-a-thousand-encores-the-ballets-russes-in-australia Firebird and Other Legends].

{{Portal|Cuba}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV1QJ5yp5BI Anette Delgado and Yosvani Ramos in Varna competition gala 1996]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120706012417/http://www.australianballet.com.au/about_us/dancers/dancer_bio/yosvani_ramos Bio as Principal Artist at The Australian Ballet]
• [http://www.smh.com.au/travel/frequent-flyer-yosvani-ramos-20110825-1jbsd.html Life as a travelling dancer]
• [http://www.danceinforma.com/magazine/2012/10/the-australian-ballets-stunning-principals-2/ Dance Informa article on The Australian Ballet's Principal Artists]
• [http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/cuban-injects-fire-in-australian-ballet-20100223-oxw6.html Appointment as Principal Artist with The Australian Ballet]

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Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:Cuban male ballet dancers

Category:English National Ballet

Category:The Australian Ballet