The dancer and choreographer Igor Yebra announces that he suffers from multiple sclerosis
The Basque artist, 52 years old, explains in an autobiography the mobility impairments that already prevent him from living a normal life
BarcelonaDancer and choreographer Igor Yebra has revealed for the first time that he suffers from multiple sclerosis, a disease he was diagnosed with in 2015 and which he has kept private for years. The 52-year-old Basque artist has made his situation public in the autobiography "Why are we so stupid and not already dancing?", which has just been published by Bao Bilbao. The first symptoms appeared in 2013 in his left leg, and he initially attributed them to hard training. It was not until 2021 that, due to a treatment with side effects, he began to share the news beyond his closest circle: "I didn't want to and couldn't keep this disease a secret anymore," he explains.
The progression of the disease has progressively affected his mobility, especially in his left leg, with which he has difficulty walking. Yebra confesses that the decision to break the silence is conditioned by this: "I have always been very reserved, very, and I think one of the reasons why I have opened up with this book has been because I didn't want to and couldn't keep this disease a secret anymore." Despite having retired as a dancer less than a decade ago to focus on new professional stages, his priority remains to stay active and avoid further physical deterioration. "If I am sitting down, working on the computer and very focused on something, I manage to stop thinking about it for a few seconds."
Yebra is one of the most notable figures in contemporary and classical dance. After having performed in major companies and theaters around the world, Yebra has maintained a great bond with the sector as a choreographer, director, and teacher, and directed the National Ballet of Sodre in Uruguay between 2018 and 2020. Currently, the artist is in Montevideo working on the organization of a competition to promote classical dance among the youth.
Regarding his personal life, Yebra married presenter Anne Igartiburu in September 2004. The couple separated at the beginning of 2006 and processed their divorce in July of that same year.