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Oscar Valdes

Principal Artist · West Australian Ballet

Oscar Valdés is a Cuban-born principal ballet dancer and Principal Artist at West Australian Ballet, Australia’s oldest professional ballet company. He is recognised for his technical precision, stage presence, and principal roles across classical and contemporary repertoire.

Born in Camagüey, Cuba, Valdés began dancing at the age of six after showing interest in his sister’s ballet classes. He trained at the School of Ballet de Camagüey and quickly established himself through international competitions, including a Silver Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Havana (2010), the Popularity Prize and Grand Prix in Havana (2011), a Gold Medal at the Cape Town International Ballet Competition (2012), Best Dancer at the Positano Competition (2012), a Gold Medal at the Rieti Ballet Competition (2013), a Gold Medal at the Milan Dance Competition (2015), and the Prize for Best Talent at Capri Dance International (2015).

In 2015 Valdés accepted an invitation from West Australian Ballet Artistic Director Aurélien Scannella to appear as a guest artist. He subsequently joined the Dutch National Ballet before returning to West Australian Ballet, where he was promoted to Principal Artist. He has performed leading roles including Albrecht in Giselle, Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Desiré in The Sleeping Beauty, and James in La Sylphide, for which he received Best Male Dancer at the 2018 Performing Arts WA Awards.

He is also the author of the book The Journey, a personal reflection on performance, discipline, and the path of an artist.

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Ballerina and male ballet dancer backstage at a theater, in costume, holding each other, with stage lights and equipment in the background.
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Giselle ballet
Bayadere Golden Idol
Giselle add
Giselle
Giselle
Giselle
Giselle
Giselle
Giselle
Sleeping Beauty
Best male dancer performer of the year award
La Muerte del Hombre
Sleeping Beauty