Dancer Yainer Ariza talks kissing Lil Nas X on stage, how he stays in peak condition, and leaving his home country Colombia for the limelight in LA

Words Alastair James

Photography Adam Washington

Not many can say they’ve licked and kissed Lil Nas X, but Yainer Ariza has done both. Hailing from Colombia, where the UN reports rising levels of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, Ariza has been dancing professionally for eight years, and now all that hard work is paying off. Speaking to Attitude just after his 24th birthday, the dancer talks about where it all began and what it was like working with the MONTERO (Call Me by Your Name) singer.

Did you always want to be a dancer?

Always. People often ask me if I want to teach it, but I have to be really inspired and want to share something with people to do that. I’m more of an interpreter; I like to play with different types of body language and movement from other people.

“Dance came naturally. I didn’t even try to like it. It picked me”

What was the starting point?

I started here, in my neighbourhood in Cartagena, when I was around seven years old and I joined a local dance team. I was there for around nine years, till I was 16. Then I started professional training with the Periferia Dance Company. I had the opportunity to travel with them and to go to festivals in different countries. I saved money and went to LA to train for a few months before going on a tour in Europe, and then I went back to LA in 2019. I started the process to become a resident in the US when COVID hit. In January, I got my papers and now I’m working in commercials, shows and stuff. It’s been really crazy.