ORLANDO, Fla. — For one ballet dancer, the decision to step away from the spotlight was a weighty one.
After all, for as long as he can remember, dance has been Israel Zavaleta Escobedo’s life.
But, the Orlando Ballet dancer is finding purpose in his new chapter — as both a husband and small business owner operating a successful photography studio.
“At first I was very scared, but I also trusted myself knowing that I do have another career that I’ve been building, another company that I’ve been building,” he said. “And I’m just going to put my trust in God and in this company that this will succeed.”
His journey into dance began at the age of 7, when Escobedo began dancing in his father’s folkloric dance company in Mexico. But he didn’t stop there: Escobedo trained in all types of dance, from traditional Mexican dancing to hip hop, jazz and contemporary styles.
But, living in a pueblo two hours outside of Mexico City, ballet, he said, was not offered.
So, his mother carted him into the city to help him live out his dream. He worked hard, and by the age of 16, Escobedo was scouted to move to the U.S. and join Orlando Ballet.
That offer to join the school — and later to snag a coveted company contract — was born of a series of competitions — as Escobedo scooped up first and second prices across the world, he garnered attention.
“I did the competition, and that’s when a teacher from Orlando Ballet School saw me,” Escobedo said. “He sent me an email saying like, ‘Hey, I saw you in the competition. We’re very interested if you could come to the school. We’ll give you a scholarship to come the full year, but you have to come the next two weeks.’ So, my family was, ‘Wow, are we going to do this?’”
Before he left and embarked on the biggest adventure of his life, Escobedo’s grandmother handed him a bandana with the Mexican flag as a reminder to stay true to his roots and heritage.
“That was one of the saddest but also happiest moments, because I had never been that far away from my family,” he said. “And I remember seeing my mom and my grandpa and my brother and all my family came to drive me off to the airport. And that was just heartbreaking in a way. But, also I knew that it was going to be a happy and great opportunity.”
For the last 10 years, Escobedo has grown as a dancer by leaps and bounds. He’s been a familiar face at Orlando Ballet performances, earning lead roles like Mowgli in “The Jungle Book,” Nick Carraway in “The Great Gatsby,” and others.
And this month, as he reprises the role of Nick in “The Great Gatsby,” he’s pivoting and taking his final bow at the age of 26.
His life plans changed when Escobedo met fellow ballet dancer, now wedding planner, Kellie Fulton while both danced at Orlando Ballet. The two married in a beachside ceremony and hope to start a family.
And, while he will still be teaching at the ballet school, likely younger dancers, Escobedo’s focus will now also be principally on growing his photography studio, Zavesco Photography, the name a mash-up of his two last names.
The genesis of this venture was a hobby Escobedo brought with him from Mexico. Yet, he said that he never imagined running his own photography business would counter a closing door with a wide-open window.
“Probably five years ago I bought my first camera — that, it was a $100 camera. It was used,” he said. “And then I started taking photos in rehearsals with the school, for competitions in the school, and things like that.”
Casual photos of fellow dancers led to a proposition for Escobedo to shoot promotional photos of one of the ballet company’s shows of the season.
Escobedo seized the opportunity and grabbed $15 lights at Home Depot for the shoot.
But, he and others quickly realized his photography talent was stellar and being a dancer himself proved to be a major benefit to each session.
“Little by little, I started noticing that I was catching everything on the right time. And I had a different eye for it, because, me being a dancer, I also know when they feel or when they reach their maximum extension, their maximum jump and things like that. I can feel it,” he said. “That’s something that I start realizing that, wow, I’m just taking all of these shots in just one click.”
Soon, Escobedo was taking the majority of photos for the company programs, his work dotting I-4 on billboards stretching high above traffic.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve been wanting to just stop on I-4 and take a photo of it,” he said with a smile. “I know it’s super dangerous, but the first time that I saw it, I couldn’t believe it.”
For the dancer, the decision to leave the stage and step behind the camera full-time may have been difficult, but he said that he is at peace because he set his fear aside and trusted in his own talent. Escobedo said his wife made the transition easier by supporting his work and dual identity as an artist “100%” — much like the support he feels from his family back in Mexico.
Israel Zavaleta Escobedo performs with the Orlando Ballet. (Photo: Orlando Ballet)
His mother and brother traveled to Orlando to see Escobedo dance in his final shows.
“(My mother) has always been with me since I was very young, doing this career. And I know how difficult it has been for her, as well,” he said. “So, it’s going to make me so happy to have her here to see me dance the last one.”
“The Great Gatsby” at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was the final full-scale production for Orlando Ballet’s season. The 2026-2027 season will return with “The Sleeping Beauty” in October 2026.