Jaime
Vargas

Benois de la Danse nominee

Born in Mexico City, Jaime Vargas began dance training when he was 14 years old at the Centra de Artey Ballet in his hometown. Studying with teachers Tita Ortega and his older brother Alejandro Vargas, he graduated with a RAD designation with honours in four years and received the prestigious'Solo Seal'. Jaime also studied at the London Studio Centre in England, as well as the Australian Ballet School where he graduated from his classical ballet studies.

To further his studies, Jaime received countless scholarships and grants that gave him the opportunity to travel the world over. He made his professional debut in 1989 with theCompania Nacional de Danza in Mexico City, Mexico and has since performed with many other companies including La Jeune Ballet de France, Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, Delfos Danza Contemporanea and Ballet de Monterrey. He has performed most of the classics in Campania Nacional de Danza's repertoire.

He has also competed internationally and won several awards including the Silver Medal in 1992 during the Fifth International Dance Festival in Paris, France, Finalist in the First and Second International Dance Competitions in Nagoya, Japan, and the Silver Medal in the First National Ballet Competition in Guadalajara, Mexico.The Mexican Union of Journalists and Critics in Theatre and Music also officially recognized him in 1994 for his contribution to the improvement of art in Mexico. Vargas joined the RWB- Royal Winnipeg Ballet in July of 2004 from the Compania Nacional de Danza as a principal dancer. During the 2004/2005 season Jaime performed the lead role of'Bob' in Val Caniparoli's highly anticipated Л Cinderella Story. In the 2005/2006 season he danced the title role in Mark Godden'sDracu/o,'Prinee Siegfried' in Swan Lake and performed in the RWB premiere of Mauricio Wainrot's The Messiah.

In January 2006 Jaime performed at the International Stars of Ballet 2006 performance in Fukuoka, Japan. He enjoys teaching and attended the summer workshop of Ballet de Monterrey, run by Robert Hill, teaching ballet class, repertoire and pas de deux.