In today’s episodes of The Tragedy Academy, Jay is joined by Brazilian actor and dancer Glauco Araujo. Glauco walks us through his life growing up in remote farmland in Brazil and how he turned his internal struggles into beautiful art for all to consume.
Key Points:
• Glauco tells his backstory growing up in a remote farm area in Brazil
• Transitioning from a field outside of Rio to an accomplished dancer and actor
• Glauco’s first contact with ballet
• Favorite ballet dancer Rudolph Nureyev and relating to his struggle
• Moving to New York wanting to something more
• Seeking therapy
• Charity: Disciple Actors Guild
Episode Highlights:
[02:23] Glauco tells us his experience growing up on a farm outside of Rio De Janeiro and his aspirations of wanting something more
[05:05] Glauco shares where his passion for dance was born. Starting with performing at Carnival, to working in the Paralympics, and also working for Modern Dance in Chicago.
[07:20] Glauco expresses his awe every time he visited Rio as a kid, comparing it to being in Times Square for the first time.
[09:47] Glauco gives us a rundown of his initial contact with a ballet which was getting his first job in a dance company in Rio where he was lucky enough to have a director who believed in him. Although he does admit that he hated ballet at first.
[12:49] Glauco begins to immerse himself into the ballet by studying its history which is where he discovered his favorite dancer, Rudolf Nureyev.
[17:37] Glauco reveals how he relates to Rudolph’s struggle; the diversity he had to overcome by being gay, the humble beginnings, his grit in following his dreams.
[19:36] Glauco shares the difficulties growing up in Brazilian culture that is traditionally machismo and suppressive, and evangelical.
[21:51] Gluaco expresses his relief and gratitude for finally living in a place that allows him to be free and is encouraged to live out his dreams.
[26:00] Glauco moves to New York where he feels a burning desire to do more than dance, something that allows the human connection.
[29:14] When moving to New York, a director sees Glauco perform and offers him a role in a short film about dancing.
[31:02] Glauco reveals that most opportunities that have come into his life have been through connecting with people.
[34:37] Staying out of trouble is Glauco's #1 advice to his younger self, but through this, he recognizes that his aggressions as a kid acted as a way to protect himself.
[38:46] Glauco and Jay discuss how people don’t change without new experiences which also means you cannot judge people without people having a chance to be confronted in what they believe in.
[40:30] Glauco confesses how therapy was his savior in overcoming and accepting past trauma. He feels that the only way to help others in seeking mental help is by setting the example.
[42:58] Charity: Disciple Actors Guild ; helps performers pay their rent and bills
[46:01] Glauco shares heartwarming messages he has received on social media
[48:34] Jay and Glauco discuss the very prominent body dysmorphia in dance and how we judge ourselves to the worst degrees.
[51:00] Plugs: 2 short films that will be out in June. Actorsguild.org
[54:00] Outro
Connect with Glauco:
• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• IMDB
Tweetable Quotes:
• “I think the motivation should be to get out of the small town and be in a big city...I had a dream to be an artist”
• “I was lucky enough to have a director who believed in me… a raw talent”
• “I got the job first and started taking ballet classes, and I HATED ballet in the beginning”
• “Where I came from you don’t have a choice”
• “I don’t have to be afraid when I got outside, I’m free here. I can be myself. it’s like everything is in favor of me”
• “If there’s 50% of love… try to nurture that 50%”
Glauco Araujois a Brazilian-born professional dancer and actor trained both here in the U.S. and in Brazil. In Rio, Glauco danced with the Rio Dance Company (modern dance), as well as with the integrated dance company ANDEF(disability dance). In 2012, Glauco represented Brazil in the closing ceremony of the Paralympic games in London. And from 2015 to 2017 Glauco acted and danced lead roles at Momenta Dance Companywith a repertoire including Doris Humphrey, Martha Graham and Charles Weidman, as well as classic choreographers like August Bournonville, Mikhail Fokine, Jules Perrot and Marius Petipa; and disability choreographers Alice Sheppard and Ginger Lane. At Momenta, a dance piece entitled Meloudious Marcowas created for Glauco in which he was featured in the lead role of Marco.
Glauco was drawn to NYC in early 2017 and was given a scholarship in at Alvin Ailey from 2017 to 2018. In 2018, he was the featured dancer in Aria, a duet choreographed for him by Pedro Ruiz, with live accompaniment by the Camerata NY Orchestra. Glauco danced and acted the following year in Sa
