Born in Cuba and based internationally, Jorge Barani is a distinguished Cuban-American ballet artist recognised for his refined technique, commanding stage presence, and commitment to classical performance. Inspired by his mother, a former ballerina, he began his ballet training at the age of eight and quickly demonstrated exceptional promise.

From 2002 to 2007, Jorge studied at the School of Arts Alfonso Pérez Isaac in Matanzas before continuing his training at the National School of Art Ballet in Havana, where he studied until 2010. After graduating, he joined the National Ballet of Cuba under Alicia Alonso and performed principal roles on international tours. A notable early milestone came in 2009, when he danced in Manon alongside artists from The Royal Ballet during their visit to Cuba.

In 2012, Jorge joined Ballet de Monterrey in Mexico, dancing roles such as Ali in Le Corsaire and the Bronze Idol in La Bayadère. Further engagements with Ballet San Jose, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida, and Northwest Florida Ballet broadened his repertoire and artistic range. He was appointed Soloist with Cincinnati Ballet in 2013 and became a Principal Dancer with Kentucky Ballet Theatre in 2014. He later held principal positions with the State Opera Stara Zagora in Bulgaria and currently performs as a Principal Dancer with the Bucharest National Opera.

Jorge’s artistry has been recognised at major international competitions, including double gold medals at the World Ballet Competition USA in 2013, a silver medal at the Korea International Ballet Competition in 2015, a gold medal at the Vienna International Ballet Competition in 2016, and a silver medal at the Varna International Ballet Competition in 2016. In 2018, his performance at the Jackson International Ballet Competition resulted in a professional contract with Cincinnati Ballet.

His repertoire spans classical works such as La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Raymonda, Paquita, Don Quixote, La Bayadère, Cinderella, and Swan Lake, as well as neoclassical and contemporary works by choreographers including Septime Webre, Katia Garza, and Devon Carney. Jorge has appeared at international galas across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including the Festival Internacional de Ballet de la Habana and the Youth America Grand Prix Gala in New York, where he partnered with Maria Kochetkova. In 2017, he reached a broad television audience through his appearance on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent.

Alongside his performance career, Jorge is active as a guest teacher, delivering masterclasses and workshops internationally. His teaching supports the next generation of dancers through disciplined, artistically grounded coaching, with an emphasis on classical technique, stage presence, and professional performance quality.