16-year-old dancer is the only Brazilian at the Dance World Cup and comes in 18th place in the competition in Ireland

Ballerina de Garça brings Brazilian music to the Dance World Cup in Ireland In ballet, precision in the movements performed and the polish of solos and group performances are essential for those who have the art as a career. This classic style of dance allowed the young dancer Garça (SP), Gabriela Fujikawa, aged 16, to win 18th place in the Dance World Cup, held in Dublin, Ireland. As the only Brazilian to participate in the competition that brought together 11,500 dancers from more than 60 countries, the teenager tells g1 what the process of preparing for the big day was like and details the journey she began when she was just 5 years old. ? Join the g1 Bauru and Marília channel on WhatsApp "It was a unique and very exciting experience! In addition to being able to travel to Ireland, I also had classes with teachers from Spain, China and Wales", he recalls. For her, it is the recognition of all the hard work done nationally. “It was the certainty that Brazilian dancers can go further and further and conquer our space in the world of dance”, he adds. MORE Dançarina de Garça (SP) represents Brazil in the Dance World Cup and comes in 18th place Personal archive According to the young woman, the objective was to highlight the music produced in Brazil through the use of music, which talks about the country's structural problems and brings a warning to young people about social networks. “The idea was to bring Brazilian music to dance and thus be able to show Brazilian music and art to the world on international stages”, he explains. Routine and support for the competition During preparation for the event, which took place between the 8th and 18th of July, the teenager spent months training. “It was a period of a lot of work, both in rehearsals and in the search for sponsorships and partnerships”, he says. In addition to her life as a dancer, she also had to balance dance classes and rehearsals with her studies. Dancer from Garça (SP) obtained company financing and support from the city hall Personal file During this time of training, the family had difficulty obtaining sponsorship to help them travel to Ireland to participate in the Dance World Cup. After several attempts, they succeeded. "I managed to get my trip sponsored by a Garça company and some partnerships and support from people who recognize my work. Garça city hall also provided the municipal theater for a show with the proceeds going towards the trip. And I just have to thank everyone." Family support For mother Adriana Fujikawa, financial and emotional support is important when it comes to Gabi's dream, talent and dedication. “I always try to encourage and support both emotionally and financially, trying to provide as many resources as possible so that she can improve more and more in dancing”, she acknowledges. Regarding her daughter's solo, Adriana remembers with pride the young woman's achievement: "Seeing my daughter conquering space and doing what she loves is very gratifying”. Heron dancer represents Brazil at the Dance World Cup “Jessica Bortaliero, Gabi's teacher, always gave a lot of support and recognition”, he adds. To g1 in early 2026, the choreographer spoke about the dancer's dedication. "Gabriela is brilliant, I can't imagine her with us for a long time. Seeing her shine, seeing all her happiness, is pure inspiration for me and her colleagues", he said at the time. Childhood passion According to the dancer, contact with ballet shoes began shortly after the time a child learned to walk. “I started classical ballet classes at the age of 5 at the municipal school of artistic culture in Garça and I fell more and more in love with dancing”, he says. At the age of 12, he began studying jazz at Jessica's studio. From this time on, she improved her skills with courses and workshops. Dancer from Garça (SP) began contact with ballet at the age of 5 Personal archive In 2025, the young woman won a place in the final of the Dance World Cup Latinoamérica, in Tigre, Argentina, where she won in the category in which she competed and took the award for Best Dancer. Due to this result, she secured a place in the Dance World Cup, in addition to being awarded a scholarship for an artistic residency in Portugal, where she studied contemporary dance for 15 days. And the future? ? After having achieved national and international success, Gabriela reveals what her next step will be. “Now I’m preparing for the Royal Academy of Dance exams to become a professional dancer,” he says. With the support of her mother and the teachings of her teacher, Gabi has all the support she needs to specialize in the profession. “It is a great emotion and the certainty that in addition to being gifted, the dancer has to dedicate a lot of effort to achieve her goals”, emphasizes Adriana Fujikawa. Crane Dancer (SP) represented Brazil and won the award for best dancer in Argentina Personal archive