From Guatemala to L.A., Dancer Pablo Garcia Reimagines Michael Jackson Through Salsa, Cumbia and Merengue

 

Pablo Garcia

Pablo Garcia, a musical dance producer with 25 years of experience, says his path into professional dance began with Michael Jackson. 

Based in the heart of Los Angeles, Pablo is a versatile dancer and performer dedicated to pushing the boundaries of movement. With expertise spanning Salsa, Bachata, Latin Pop, and beyond, his journey began in Guatemala, where his deep-rooted passion for dance first ignited. 

Garcia started working when he was only eight years old, and he recognized something familiar in Jackson’s story: the loss of a normal childhood, the discipline, and the pull of performance. “When I learned about his life, I said, okay, I think that means something,” Garcia recalled. By 18, he had decided to become a professional dancer, inspired by Jackson’s artistry and drive. His own beginnings started even earlier, around age seven or eight, dancing merengue before moving into breakdance, acrobatics, hip-hop, and eventually forming a dance team in Guatemala.

Watch Garcia's interview below as he reflects on how Michael Jackson’s artistry helped shape his path from a young dancer in Guatemala to an artist with 25 years of experience. 

Now, after dancing, training, and performing around the world, Garcia is bringing that history into a new show shaped by Latin music and global movement. Working with two producers from Guatemala, he began reimagining familiar songs with salsa, cumbia, and merengue arrangements, building a performance that honors Michael Jackson while giving the music a new cultural pulse. Garcia now brings the show for the first time to Los Angeles and the premiere is set for Saturday, May 30 in Reseda, Los Angeles. 

.     

____________

Credits: 

- Performance clips in video courtesy of Pablo Garcia

- Lead still image courtesy of Sunil Sadarangani

- 2nd still image courtesy of Pablo Garcia via Instagram.