Iván de Jesús Jr. Wins Wapa TV’s ¡Claro que baila! and $40,000 Grand Prize

Athletic Discipline Meets the Dance Floor

Balancing active participation in double-A baseball with daily dance rehearsals proved demanding. De Jesús noted that preparing for the show involved far more time than anticipated, pushing him past physical and personal limits.

Iván de Jesús Jr. shared via Primera Hora that it was a very significant sacrifice, noting that not only did he leave his family and children shut indoors at home all summer, but he was also active in double-A baseball and could not be physically at one hundred percent to perform on the playing field as he wanted because he was more focused on dancing.

The former ballplayer credited the work ethic forged in professional sports with helping him survive nine weeks of intense competition. While he initially expected to practice for only an hour or two daily, rehearsals frequently stretched to seven, eight, and nearly ten hours a day.

Iván de Jesús Jr. stated via Primera Hora that if he had not possessed the discipline that baseball taught him, anyone else would have quit at the beginning of this great event, explaining that he had entered thinking he was only going to dance for an hour or two and that was it, but he basically had to dance every day for long hours, spending more than seven, eight, and almost 10 hours rehearsing.

A Dramatic Final Duel

The final night brought together the remaining finalists, who carried forward cumulative scores earned during previous rounds. Following an opening hip-hop lyrical routine conceptualized by production, the field narrowed. De Jesús and competitor Samarys Barbot achieved the highest cumulative scores, advancing them to a final head-to-head showdown.

In the final round, scores reset to zero, and the celebrity-chosen choreographies determined the outcome. De Jesús and Rodríguez Díaz captured the victory by a single point over Barbot and her partner Steven James. The judging panel for the decisive broadcast included Sophy Sanfiorenzo, Lumarie Landrau, and Solimar Arzola—who stepped in as guest judge for production’s choreography director Bryan Villarini.

Throughout the season, 15 public figures from various disciplines competed on the show, hosted by Diane Ferrer. The roster of participants included Saritza Alvarado, Allen Yadiel, Adriana Fontánez, Bryan Reyes, Chicle Clown, Ricardo Álvarez, Heyda Salamán, Gustavo Ortiz D´Gentledog, Jennifer Fungenzi, Jesse Calderón, Neira Ortiz, Alyssa Hunter, and Patricia Corcino.

Reflections on Partnering a Professional Athlete

For choreographer and partner Allison Rodríguez Díaz, coaching an athlete required a fresh approach. She studied baseball movements to understand how De Jesús moved, aiming to surprise him with his own growth.

Allison Rodríguez Díaz explained via Primera Hora that she had to study Iván by looking at how baseball players move, what he actually does, what she could draw from him, and what she could do to surprise him with himself, because her idea was for him to grow not only physically but also emotionally.

Reflecting on the experience, Rodríguez Díaz noted her initial impression of baseball as a passive sport shifted after seeing De Jesús’s endurance on the dance floor.

Allison Rodríguez Díaz mentioned via Primera Hora that she was now telling her dancers to start batting or take baseball classes to see if it helps them grow.

Life After the Trophy

With the competition concluded, De Jesús returns to his regular professional commitments, which include working as a sports analyst on Wapa Deportes. However, he confirmed that dance will remain part of his routine moving forward.

Iván de Jesús Jr. expressed via Primera Hora that now, at least once or twice a week, he could drop by for various dance practice sessions.