En pointe is a technique in which ballet dancers support their body weight on their toes while their feet are in a vertical stance. Traditionally it’s performed by female dancers, but ballet dancer Roberto Vega Ortiz challenges these gender roles.
"It's not okay for society anymore. People are being pressured to change and adjust and move on with today's society. It's not 300 or 400 years ago. It's not the same. We've moved on. We've changed."Roberto Vega Ortiz
What started off as a fun online project during quarantine Vega Ortiz turned it into a space in Oakland for men and nonbinary artists to feel comfortable and perform professionally en pointe.
Roberto Vega Ortiz will be performing with his dance company, Ballet22, on July 29 and 30 at the Cowell Theater in San Francisco.
This interview was produced with help from Porfirio Rangel.
