Meet Lucas Ataide | Ballet dancer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lucas Ataide and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lucas, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
From a young age, I felt that art/dance was my calling. As I’ve matured as an artist, I’ve grown to understand how important art is to community building. It makes us think, it helps us empathize with others and it helps us to see the beautify that surrounds us. Without art we cannot progress as a society.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a dancer is that when everybody around me is succeeding, then I’m succeeding as well. We can’t create art by ourselves, and when we support each other the final product we produce is more polished, complete and meaningful.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
San Diego is so beautiful, just about anything you do here is going to be memorable. I’d take my friend to Balboa Park for a drink and bite to eat at Panama 66. I’d take them to Old Town State Historic Park for some cultural history of the city. We’d definitely go to a couple of beaches — Blacks Beach, Coronado Beach, Mission Beach and a bike ride around Mission Bay Park. At night we’d go out in Hillcrest for drinks, music and dancing. Our last night would be dinner at Madison on Park Boulevard in my own neighborhood of University Heights.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My shoutout goes to City Ballet of San Diego, the company where I currently dance. This is my sixth season with them, and I’m very grateful for all the opportunities I’ve gotten to grow into the artist I am today.

Instagram: lucas_athaide

Image Credits
Kevin Hartmann