JAIME VARGAS
Principal Dancer

“Jaime Vargas thrilled us with his leaps and soft landings”
– Winnipeg Free Press, 2005

Born in Mexico City, Mexico, Jaime Vargas began dance training when he was 14 years old at the Centro de Arte y Ballet in his hometown. Studying with teachers Tita Ortega and his older brother Alejandro Vargas, he graduated with a RAD designation with honours in four years and received the prestigious ‘Solo Seal.’ Vargas also studied at the London Studio Centre in England, as well as the Australian Ballet School where he graduated from his classical ballet studies.

To further his studies, Vargas received countless scholarships and grants that gave him the opportunity to travel the world over. He made his professional debut in 1989 with the Compania Nacional de Danza in Mexico City and has since performed with many other companies including La Jeune Ballet de France, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, Delfos Danza Contemporanea and Ballet de Monterrey. He has performed most of the classics in Campania Nacional de Danza’s repertoire.

Vargas has also competed internationally and won several awards including the Silver Medal in 1992 during the Fifth International Dance Festival in Paris, France; Finalist in the First and Second International Dance Competitions in Nagoya, Japan; and the Silver Medal in the First National Ballet Competition in Guadalajara, Mexico. The Mexican Union of Journalists and Critics in Theatre and Music also officially recognized him in 1994 for his contribution to the improvement of art in Mexico.

Vargas joined the RWB as a principal dancer in July of 2004 from the Compania Nacional de Danza. During his time with the RWB, Vargas has danced various lead roles such as ‘Prince Siegfried’ in Swan Lake. Last season he reprised the lead role of ‘Bob’ in Val Caniparoli’s hit A Cinderella Story, premiered the menacing ‘Captain Hook’ in Jorden Morris’ Peter Pan and danced the title role in Mark Godden’s Dracula when the company was on tour.

In January 2006 Vargas performed at the International Stars of Ballet 2006 performance in Fukuoka, Japan. Most recently Vargas was nominated for the Benois de la Danse prize for 2006 for his role of ‘Tamino’ in Mark Godden’s The Magic Flute. In May 2007, Vargas travelled to Moscow to perform his nominated piece for the 15th Anniversary award ceremony held at the new Bolshoi Theatre.

Vargas also enjoys teaching. In 2006 he taught ballet class, repertoire and pas de deux classes at a summer workshop for Ballet de Monterrey, run by Robert Hill.

This season watch for Vargas to take on the role of ‘Don José,’ one of the male leads in Mauricio Wainrot’s world premiere of Carmen, the Passion. He will also dance the roles of ‘Prince Désiré’ in The Sleeping Beauty and the ‘Prince‘ in Nutcracker.

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