Joan Sebastian Zamora

JOAN SEBASTIAN ZAMORA began dancing at the age of eight in Cali, Colombia, at the Colombian Institute of Classical Ballet (INCOLBALLET). What began as a young boy discovering dance became a lifelong journey that has taken him to stages and companies across the world. Along the way, he has learned that being a dancer is not only about what you accomplish, but also about how much you continue to learn, share, and give to others.

Joan Sebastian’s training took him from Colombia to the United States and England. He attended the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive Programs in New York City for six consecutive years, studied at The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, and later received a scholarship to The Royal Ballet School, graduating in 2013.

His professional career has included English National Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, the Colombian Company of Ballet, and The Georgia Ballet, where he was a Principal Dancer. He has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire and has had the privilege of working with choreographers including Christopher Wheeldon, Yuri Possokov, John Neumeier, Akram Khan, Alexander Ekman, Krzysztof Pastor, Justin Peck, Val Caniparoli, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, among others.

For Joan Sebastian, dance remains a way of discovering who he is, both as an artist and as a person. It challenges him to explore his potential, deepen his artistry, and continually discover something new within himself. There is also something more instinctive about why he dances: the intensity, the physical challenge, and the feeling of being completely present in the moment. Even after many years, that feeling continues to draw him back to the studio. He believes that no matter how much experience he gains, there is always more to learn, something new to discover, and another opportunity to grow.

Joan Sebastian has been a guest artist with Los Angeles Ballet and numerous ballet schools and academies. He was featured in the documentary First Position by Bess Kargman. His recognitions include a Silver Medal at the 2010 Youth America Grand Prix, finalist placement at the 2010 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and finalist in the 2013 English National Ballet Emerging Dancer Competition. In 2014, he received the Premio a la Caleñidad from the mayor of Santiago de Cali for his contributions to art and dance worldwide.

Joan Sebastian joined BalletMet during the 2023/24 season. He is grateful for the opportunity to continue growing as an artist, to learn from the people around him, and to share the stage with the Columbus community. After many years of dancing, he still feels there is something new to discover, and that is what excites him about coming to the studio every day.