That July morning in 2017 was as hot as ever in Cartagena, Colombia. I was getting ready to head to the office in the historic centre. My then-associate, aware of the dance project I was working on, had seen a news segment the night before. It featured a story about a Colombian dancer who had risen to prominence as part of the Royal Ballet in London. His journey was extraordinary; an upbringing that seemed far removed from the world of ballet, yet he’d not only succeeded against all odds but had even danced before the Queen of England.

“Joe,” he said, “next time you’re in London, you should try to reach out to this guy, Fernando Montaño. He might be interested in your project. Who knows? Maybe he’ll get involved.”

“Why not?” I replied. “I’m from Colombia, and I’m working on something that could help change lives. He might see the value in it.” Little did I know how naïve that thought was.

Dancers, I’d come to learn, are some of the hardest artists to pin down; brilliants but elusive when it comes to timing and communication. Still, I gave it a shot. That same July, I sent my first message to Fernando. Silence. I tried again a couple more times, only to meet the same response: nothing. Maybe he wasn’t reading the messages, or maybe he was and simply chose not to reply due to the tight schedule as a ballerino for the Royal Ballet. Either way, I eventually gave up after several attempts over the years.

Fast-forward to late 2024. One evening, while scrolling through my Facebook feed, I stumbled upon a post by Fernando. On a whim, I decided to try again. My message was casual, with no expectations:

“Hey Fernando, how’s it going? When could we, if you’re interested, hang out and shoot a photo session? Play a little with light and scenarios. Have a happy day.”

To my surprise, this time, he replied. He said he’d love some new photos and suggested we set up a meeting.

When we finally met near the French Embassy, it wasn’t without its quirks, Fernando was nearly an hour and a half late (Yes, Fernand). He was visibly embarrassed and kept apologizing, but we laughed it off. I joked that I’d include this detail in the story of our collaboration. (Here it is!) Jokes aside, I quickly discovered that Fernando is one of the humblest, most genuine, and down-to-earth individuals I’ve ever met. His passion for his craft runs deep, straight to his heart and soul.

Over tea and cake (his) and a bitter coffee (mine, because, let’s be honest, coffee is sacred to me and it really needs to be balance for me to enjoy it), we talked. Not just about him, but about life, art, and the twists and turns that had brought us both to this moment. He listened intently, genuinely curious about my work and my perspective on life.

He spoke candidly about the intricacies of his artistic journey, not just as a dancer but also as a painter who blends movement and colour in unique ways. It was mesmerizing. That evening, a connection was formed. It led to our first photo session capturing the essence of his art. And this, I know, is just the beginning.