José Miguel Hernández Hurtado is originally from Cuba and has lived in Syracuse since November 14, 1997. Before beginning his current work at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital’s emergency department, the first 17 years in Syracuse he worked at Rosewood Heights Health Center as a physical therapy aide. Simultaneously José Miguel organized and directed a theater company that he founded in 1999 under the umbrella of the Spanish Action League, serving as artistic director and dance instructor. The group was recently incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit and registered as such in New York State.

    José Miguel took Latin American and contemporary dance classes in Cuba. He was accepted into the House of Culture and Drama department in Santa Clara, Cuba at the age of 7 and was mentored by the esteemed theater teachers, Odalys Chong and Vladimir Pérez.   

    José Miguel attended drama classes from Teatro Estudio in Havana, Cuba under the direction of the illustrious actress, Raquel Revuelta.  He was selected as Best Male Actor in a national student competition in Camagüey, Cienfuegos, and Havana, Cuba.

     Many years ago, José Miguel started teaching beginner Salsa and other traditional Caribbean dances to children and adults in various places around Central New York including Syracuse University, Community Folk Art Center, Syracuse Stage and other agencies. La Joven Guardia has performed and José Miguel has directed over 21 contemporary and classical Spanish children’s plays, including performances at the Michael Harms Theater Festival in Central New York for a number of years.

     Several members of the cast received awards for their performances and José Miguel received the ‘Excellence in Outstanding Achievement for Direction’ award for directing Gabriel García Márquez’ play, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings in 2008; Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s Adventures of Don Quixote in 2011; The Enchanted Shrimp in 2012, a version of the French Laboulaye written by José Martí. The Enchanted Shrimp, among others, he adapted for the stage. José Miguel’s work on the radio and in theater in Cuba carried over to his life in Syracuse, maintaining his firm belief that every child needs and deserves an opportunity to reach for a better place in which to live, and to realize their dreams for a better future.