Who is Matías Jaime?
My full name is Gonzalo Matías Jaime, I am 34 years old until 23 January of next year, and I am Argentine. I’m a dancer in MALEVO and also the troupe’s director and choreographer.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
Surely many things. I am a young man who tries to learn from his experiences and I try to take all the positive from the good and the bad that is happening. All these experiences help you have another perspective on life and many beliefs change. That’s why I think I will surely modify many things even more because of what I have experienced and learned.
Who inspires you and why?
It inspires me to have objectives to achieve, to have dreams, goals. But above all, think that everything I want to achieve I can achieve by putting my all into it. My aunt also inspires me, from her I learned to have faith and all the virtues one can have by being a good person beyond adversity. She inspires me to discover that I am capable of living new experiences if I can overcome my fears. Sometimes I think we underestimate ourselves and limit ourselves out of fear.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
The question is very difficult but the least I would do is guarantee food, health and a minimum standard of living for all human beings regardless of nationality, religion, etc. It’s crazy to think that in many countries people are literally starving or have to survive on waste. But that happens and if you currently have no money in this world you can die. The world has no owner, humans are transitory and selfish of what the planet offers us for free.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
The reality is that I always love the beach, I love the ones with crystal clear water and many colours and white sand. Thanks to my career or some vacations I have taken, I discovered incredible places like Thailand, Tulum and some more. But I must also admit that I fell in love with the mountains and especially with Argentine Patagonia, which seems like a paradise to me.
When friends come to your hometown, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
I would take them to see Buenos Aires, different tourist places such as the Obelisk, the Teatro Colón, La Bombonera. There are also many options for dining and entertainment during the day and night. It is the city that never sleeps.
What are you currently reading?
Currently I don’t read much but I read books like The Knight in Rusty Armor, Don Quixote of La Mancha, The Da Vinci Code, Martín Fierro, etc. Lately I’ve been watching a lot of YouTube since I go straight to what interests me and also some Netflix.
What are you currently listening to?
I listen to all kinds of music and I would like to listen to many more genres, but currently I am listening to a lot of 90s national rock. I really like electronic music and obviously Argentine folklore in all its variants. I also love tango, flamenco, cumbia, hip hop, pop, well actually everything hahahaha.
Happiness is?
A very difficult question too. In my experience, I always grew up with the thought that I would be happy when I achieved this or that. Thanks to God and also to a lot of work, I can say that I achieved many goals and that of course gave me a lot of happiness. But in my worst moments, I began to understand that happiness is in the little things but above all in family and love. Time with our loved ones is priceless and the better we are emotionally, the happier we will be.
What does the future hold for you?
The future holds everything for me that I have the courage to live.
Matías can be seen in MALEVO – which makes its Australian premiere this Summer at the Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall) from 17 – 21 January and Arts Centre Melbourne (State Theatre) from 23 – 28 January 2024.
Image: Matías Jaime (supplied)