Yat-Sen Chang Oliva (born 1971 in Matanzas, Cuba) is a

Cuban Cuban may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Cuba, a country in the Caribbean * Cubans, people from Cuba, or of Cuban descent ** Cuban exile, a person who left Cuba for political reasons, or a descendant thereof * Cuban citizen, a perso ...

former principal dancer.

Biography

Yat-Sen Chang is a Chinese Cuban born in Matanzas,

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. Yat-Sen Chang studied dance at the

Cuban National Ballet School The Cuban National Ballet School ''(Escuela Nacional Cubana de Ballet)'' in Havana, with approximately 3,000 students is the biggest ballet school in the world and the most prestigious ballet school in Cuba. It is directed by Ramona de Sáa. His ...

, beginning his studies at the age of nine. In 1989 he graduated as a dancer and teacher and joined the

Cuban National Ballet The Cuban National Ballet ( es, Ballet Nacional de Cuba) is a classical ballet company based at Great Theatre of Havana in Havana, Cuba, founded by the Cuban prima ballerina assoluta, Alicia Alonso in 1948. The official school of the company ...

under

Alicia Alonso Alicia Alonso (born Alicia Ernestina de la Caridad del Cobre Martínez del Hoyo; 21 December 1920 – 17 October 2019) was a Cuban prima ballerina assoluta and choreographer whose company became the Ballet Nacional de Cuba in 1955. She is best ...

. In 1992, he was invited to the International Dance Festival of La Baule and joined Jeune Ballet de France, in the same year and performed in many different countries. He joined the

English National Ballet English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin as London Festival Ballet and based in London, England. Along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scottish ...

in 1993 as

principal dancer A principal dancer (often shortened to principal) is a dancer at the highest rank within a professional dance company, particularly a ballet company. A principal may be male or female. The position is similar to that of '' soloist''; however, p ...

. He has a daughter with fellow ENB former principal dancer and ex-girlfriend Simone Clarke. Yat-Sen studied at the Cuban National Ballet School, beginning his studies at the age of nine. The youngest of three brothers (all professionally trained ballet dancers), he graduated as a dancer and teacher in 1989 and immediately joined the famous Cuban National Ballet Company. In 1992, he joined Jeune Ballet de France. Yat-Sen performed both nationally and internationally as a guest artist in many Galas, including; A Homage to Nureyev at The Coliseum Theatre, The 50th Birthday Wings in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, The 50th Anniversary of The English National Ballet, Dame Beryl Grey's Evening at Sadler's Wells Theatre and The 10th Anniversary of Danzaria. Yat-Sen was also a guest artist with the Northern Ballet Theatre NBT in the production The Three Musketeers. He also appeared on television as the lead dancer in Granada Television's 'Men in Tights' and on Blue Peter performing The Twins from William Tuckett's Canterville Ghost. Awards he received included Best Partner at the Varna International Festival (1990) and The "Leonida Massine Award" in Positano for Best Classical Dancer (1999). Yat-Sen is also the Guinness World Record holder of the faster turns within 30 sec. Yat-Sen Chang became the Artistic Director of the Espinosa Dance Project in February 2012. In addition to the EDP company class, He also gave private tuition to vocationally trained students and professionals. In August 2013 he started his own brand new company, Yat-Sen Chang Dance Company.

Sexual assault allegations and charges

Chang was accused of sexually assaulting three women at a London dance school. He was charged with 14 counts of sexual assault on a girl between 2014 and 2016. She was as young as 16 when these incidents occurred. He denied these charges in the Magistrates Court, but on 11 May 2021 was found guilty of 12 counts of sexual assault and one count of assault by penetration. He was sentenced to 9 years in prison.

Notes

External links

Official page at the facebook site

Interview in Havana Times, May 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chang, Yat-Sen English National Ballet Cuban male ballet dancers Living people Cuban emigrants to England Cuban people of Chinese descent 1971 births People from Matanzas

Biography

Sexual assault allegations and charges

See also

Notes

External links