Juan Rafael Castellanos is very excited to be dancing in his first season with Alabama Ballet. Juan’s dance training began in Dublin, Ireland, where he was born and continued in the U.S. at Metropolitan Ballet Academy in Jenkintown, PA under the Direction of Lisa Collins Vidnovic. As a member of their nationally acclaimed Boys' Scholarship Program, Juan's 11 years of study there included access to many world-class teachers and the opportunity to perform a variety of principal roles, including Prince in Cinderella (2018), Bluebird Pas in Sleeping Beauty (2017), and Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream (2016), as well as soloist and principal roles in contemporary works choreographed by Jessica Lang, Sarah Mettin, and Kanji Segawa. After graduation in 2019, Juan then joined the Charlotte Ballet Pre-Professional program under the Direction of Laszlo Berdo, Kati Mayo and Patricia McBride. Over the span of four years with Charlotte Ballet, Juan was promoted to Charlotte Ballet II and eventually to the main company. At Charlotte Ballet Juan had the opportunity to perform pieces from many choreographers which includes Chris Stuart, Helen Pickett, Jennifer Archibald, George Balanchine and Matthew Hart.