Meet Benjamin Peralta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Benjamin Peralta.

Benjamin, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I first began taking dance lessons when I was four years old. My mom, however, always used to tell me that I could dance before I could walk! Being a former dancer herself, she was eager and excited to enroll me in dance classes when I expressed the interest to move. From there, I attended a competition studio where I trained in various styles of dance. Moving forward, I continued my ballet and modern training at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and trained in ballet, contemporary, hip-hop, tap, and jazz at Britney Boyd Dance Company in Jacksonville, Florida (my hometown). I am now a BFA Class of 2022 student at the University of Southern California’s Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and I look forward to continue my artistic journey throughout college and beyond.

Alongside dance, I have a growing passion for dance and portrait photography. I first began taking photos on a DSLR during my sophomore year of high school and I immediately fell in love with the art form. Combining my passion for dance with photography has proved to provide endless amounts of inspiration and motivation to pursue careers in both dance and photography.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
As a dancer, my goal is to create art that audiences of all ages and backgrounds can relate to on a human level. I feel that dance allows me to communicate and relate with people in ways that words simply cannot. I am heavily influenced by human interactions and the various emotions that reside in all of us and I believe that everyone has their own unique artistic voice. It is essential to explore the full extent of each person’s vocabulary and I hope to inspire others to follow their passions, as this will provide for a fruitful life full of joy and excitement.

In regards to photography, I aim to catch the “in-between” moments of dance, for these moments are more honest and vulnerable in my opinion. As opposed to capturing a finished line or an impressive leap, I find that the transition steps are more organic and more interesting to look at through my eyes. I hope that my work sparks creativity amongst viewers and encourages imagination in all fields of life.

Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
With everything going on in the world today, I believe that artists play a crucial role in society in keeping love, positivity, and creativity alive. It is easy to get caught up in the world around us and I think that artists can captivate audiences and provide hope and happiness when it is needed most.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I perform with my classmates several times throughout the year at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance and my work can also be seen on my Instagram page, @benjaminperalta_. My photography can be seen on my second Instagram account, @peralta_photography.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @benjaminperalta_ and @peralta_photography
• Twitter: @benjaminperalt9

Image Credit:
Hope Jones, Luke Csordas, Tish Schmid

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