Born in Colombia, South America, Horacio Cifuentes attended various dance academies in Spain, Poland and the United States. Among them, the prestigious American Ballet Theatre School and the San Francisco Ballet School. Michael Smuin, director of the San Francisco Ballet discovered Horacio and featured him in various key roles in the dance company, where he also worked with international choreographers such as Jiry Kylian, Robert North and Arthur Mitchell.

Horacio was inspired by American bellydance pioneer Magana Baptiste to become an oriental dancer. Under her guidance he followed extensive studies into the mystical world of yoga, spiritual dance, and bellydance. His story is full of fascinating anecdotes, humor, tragedy and brings with it a profound spiritual depth.

Horacio Cifuentes resides in Berlin, Germany, where he co-directs a dance academy with his wife and dancepartner, Beata Cifuentes.


"He is the Nijinsky of Oriental Dance!"   - Kyra Nijinsky, daughter of the immortal Vaslav Nijinsky.

"Horacio's book is a GEM and should be on everyone's bookshelf."  - Magana Baptiste, American Belly Dance Pioneer and Yogini.