Shakira’s dancer opens up about mental health on tour: “We get psychological support. It’s so necessary”

Thank you so much. I’m experiencing it with a mix of awe, full presence, and deep gratitude. For me, being part of the most important tour of Shakira’s career means many things.

On one hand, there’s my inner child who still can’t believe this opportunity is real. My journey began with watching Shakira on television, and now, to be dancing alongside her feels like a moment of profound significance. Being on this tour feels like life is telling me, “You’ve walked your path, you’ve put in the effort, and this is your reward.” It’s a validation of years of work, training, and sacrifice. It’s incredibly comforting to see that life keeps affirming I’m on the right path, living my purpose day by day.

But this tour isn’t just a professional milestone for me. Shakira is a woman who has pushed boundaries, turned her vulnerability into incredible strength, and never asked for permission to do so. She embodies the full splendor of female power. Being by her side is a constant inspiration and, at the same time, a way of walking through my own story with the example of a strong, resilient, intelligent, and loving woman. She is a woman who has transformed her pain into art.

Yes, and I still am. Yes, and I continue to do so. As I mentioned, I have been listening to her music and dancing to her songs since my childhood. She significantly contributed to my realization of my passion for dance. That memory holds great significance for me, and each time I take the stage, I reconnect with it and feel a deep sense of gratitude. She played a big part in helping me realize how much I loved to dance. That memory is powerful for me, and every time I step on stage, I reconnect with it and feel grateful.

On top of that, throughout my dance training and professional career, her music has always inspired me when creating choreography.

She’s very involved in every part of this tour, so I can confirm she has the final say in absolutely everything, and that includes the dancers.

In my case, our working relationship began back in 2019 when we did the opening show for the Davis Cup. After that came the music video for Girl Like Me, and everything else followed from there.

She, along with Maite Marcos, her longtime choreographer, personally decided to bring me on for this project—and I’ll always be grateful for that.

Every concert is a physically and emotionally intense experience. You also have to remember that you don’t feel the same every day—some days you’re more tired or less energetic—but you still have to give the same performance for every stadium and every audience.

Shakira gives her all on stage every single time, and that demands you rise to her level night after night.

As for preparation, of course there’s rigorous training and constant care of the body, both before and during the tour. But emotional work has also been essential. Being away from home 24/7 for months takes a toll on your rhythm, your body, your mind, and your emotions. So I prepared myself on many levels.

That said, I believe this kind of work is something a dancer prepares for over an entire career—through years of training, professional experience, and key decisions made along the way. Stage presence, connecting with the audience, performing under pressure, technical skill, self-confidence… all of that is built over time and sustained by everything you’ve worked for.

To be honest, what I do between shows is listen to my body. If I need to stretch, I stretch. If I need rest, I rest. Gentle movement, breathwork, and stretching—those are part of my routine, along with mindful rest.

In this kind of process, it’s not so much about adding more training but about supporting the body and giving it what it needs. Avoid overexerting it.

Living on the road, traveling from city to city with different food and water every time, is already a lot for the body to process. Plus, the show itself is great training—and amazing cardio.

So in short, I do whatever my body needs in each moment.

I don’t follow any specific diet, but I always try to eat well, with variety and balance. I do make an effort to go for lighter meals before a show, ones that give me energy without feeling too heavy.

I’m also a big fan of supplements. I take Omega-3, multivitamins, magnesium, and a few others depending on the moment. I think they’re a great tool to support the immune system, especially in such demanding situations like a tour.

Whatever’s at catering! (laughs) But seriously, as I mentioned, before a show I try to eat light—something that gives me energy without weighing me down. I usually go for fruit, some simple carbs, and a light protein.

After the show, I choose foods that help me recover and regain energy. That said, I’m pretty flexible and honestly, I often just eat whatever I feel like in the moment.

Every day before the show we do a sound check, which is basically a rehearsal. So yes, I guess we still rehearse. There are always little things to add or adjust.

There’s one moment that’s really stuck with me. During the last song of the show, the one Shakira does with Bizarrap, we all line up in front of the crowd, dancing and connecting with the audience.

I remember seeing a mother and her little girl from the stage, and making eye contact with the girl. I always finish my freestyle in that part by pointing to someone when Shaki sings “pa tipos como túuuu,” and that night, I pointed at her. I saw her eyes light up with emotion. It was amazing.

I know I gave her a beautiful memory, but what she doesn’t know is that she gave one to me too.

Honestly, I don’t even know how the makeup survives. We do it ourselves, and I’m still learning a lot. I try to use long-wear products, set everything well with powder and setting spray, and I reapply blush between songs. As for the hair, all the credit goes to our teammate Ciara—she’s a genius with styling. I just try to hold it all together until the end.

I try to eat well to regain energy, stretch to release muscle tension, and sleep a lot so my body can fully recover. It sounds basic, but it’s essential.

Yes, absolutely. The heavy makeup and the physical stress of constant travel take a toll on anyone. My skin is quite sensitive right now, so I try to care for it as much as I can. I also work on managing stress by meditating, journaling, or practicing breathing exercises.

Mentally, I make sure to stay strong and balanced. How do I do that? I go out and explore cities I haven’t seen before, and I journal, read, meditate, and talk with my family and my girlfriend. The tour can be really demanding, especially because you’re far from your loved ones.

Every day, I remind myself that I'm living the life I once wished for, and that's when I feel grateful. I think gratitude is the best way to stay motivated in this kind of work.

However, I must admit that some days are more challenging than others. What’s amazing is that we’re offered psychological support on tour, so we can have sessions with professionals whenever we need. In my opinion, that’s incredible and very necessary.

Working with Shakira means high standards and precision. She’s deeply perfectionistic, fully committed to her art and to how she presents herself to the world. I really admire that about her because I totally connect with that way of working.

On a personal level, she’s warm, caring, incredibly smart and witty, generous, and genuinely concerned about everyone around her.

I’ve learned many things from her, but there’s one lesson that really stayed with me—our vulnerability is not a weakness; it’s a strength. Through it, we grow and reach a higher version of ourselves.

I truly enjoy the entire show, but my favorite moment is when we dance to Hips Don’t Lie. That song was part of the soundtrack of my childhood and teenage years. It takes me back to my living room, where I used to dance to it, and reminds me of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve worked to get here. It’s proof that dreams really do come true.

I also love the song with Bizarrap—it’s a moment where we feel a deep connection with the audience.

What I can say is that I completely deny it, just like all the other rumors you might have seen on social media—many of which are even AI-generated. I find it shocking how something with no foundation can go viral online. People start making up random things, and in the end, a lot of people believe them.

To be clear: I am still in exactly the same positions I’ve had since the start of the tour, and of course, I haven’t been fired. Shakira and I have worked together for many years, and beyond being teammates, we’re friends.

What I will say is that people need to be more careful about what they say online. Not everything is fair game. These false rumors brought a lot of hate my way. I thank God I have a strong mindset, but you never know how a hateful comment might affect someone else, or how far it could push them.

I wish the world had much more social and self-awareness, because those comments are nothing more than projections of the inner pain of the people who write them.

Yes, I did go viral, and honestly, it never even crossed my mind. At first, it was a bit overwhelming, but I always try to focus on the positive side of things.

I’m so grateful to everyone who sends me kind messages every day. It’s incredibly uplifting, and for an artist, it’s beautiful to feel that you’re inspiring so many people.

I feel really proud knowing that maybe, through me, someone found the courage to fully commit to dance, to leave a career path that didn’t fulfill them, to travel alone, or to feel comfortable with their sexual orientation and come out.

This job is amazing, but yes—it definitely takes a toll. Right now we have a break before the tour starts up again, so I’ll be spending the next few weeks in Spain, resting with friends and family.

Yes, I have some projects in mind for when the tour wraps. There are a few ideas of my own that I want to develop and bring to life. That said, the tour is still a living project that keeps evolving, and right now, it’s my main focus.

There are so many artists I’d love to collaborate with—Bad Bunny, Tate McRae, Beyoncé… just to name a few.

What matters most to me is that the artist inspires me, that their project makes sense, and that it communicates something with power and personality.

Throughout my career, I’ve been lucky to work with singers who believe in themselves and have something meaningful to say. I always mention Rosalía as an example. I joined her during her El Mal Querer era, a deeply personal project that broke the mold. That album launched her because the world realized how unique she was—and that she was exactly what it needed. Every show with her filled me with inspiration.

Shakira has that same power. And I believe we, as dancers, are also part of that message. We bring stories, emotion, and quality to the stage. Working with artists who value that is what motivates me the most.