Driven by a passion for performing, Argentine Walter David Quiroga Ramírez came to Xi'an in 2023 and became one of the first foreign actors in the large-scale performance Omni Chang'an, directed by Zhang Yimou.

From La Plata, the 39-year-old majored in folk dance and tango at the National University of the Arts in Buenos Aires and has worked as a dance performer and teacher.

Walter in the zone during a performance. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

Before coming to Xi'an, he had already gained extensive experience, performing at Chimelong Resort Guangzhou for half a year in 2017 and working as a dance teacher in Shenzhen for one year in 2018, teaching rumba and tango.

Walter's working experiences in China have left him with a wonderful impression: "Chinese people are very friendly and hospitable. I've always looked forward to coming to China again." Therefore, in 2023, when an international artist agency asked him if he was willing to perform in Xi'an, he agreed without hesitation.

"I had never been to Xi'an before, but I knew about this city for a long time — it's home to the world-renowned Terracotta Warriors, which I've always been eager to see with my own eyes!" Walter said that when he was a teenager, he first saw images of the Terracotta Warriors in a movie. Amazed, he even searched for information online about the Warriors and Xi'an. He never thought that many years later, he would have the opportunity to come to this city.

After finally visiting Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, which he'd been longing to see, he was shocked, saying, "Gazing at the Terracotta Warriors, I can still feel the majesty and glory of the Qin Dynasty over 2,000 years ago."

After arriving in Xi'an, Walter and the rest of his international cast quickly threw themselves into intense rehearsals, which required time and effort to get used to.

"The work was really tough, especially the weeks before the official performance," said Walter, adding, "We practiced from 10 am until 2 or 3 am every day." Despite language barriers, the actors shared a common goal, and all brought their best to deliver the most outstanding performance.

Omni Chang'an debuted in Xi'an in November 2023 and was a huge success, quickly becoming one of Xi'an's most popular cultural performances. Walter has said that he feels honored to have been part of the crew.

Walter married his wife, Chen Jing, who is from Lanzhou and works in Xi'an, in 2025. "My family was very happy to know that I had found my love!" he said. When his contract with Omni Chang'an expired at the end of 2024, he stayed in Xi'an while his colleagues returned home. He said, "Xi'an is no longer just a work choice — it's my home now."

Walter (right) plays the violin. [Photo/Xi'an news network]

After leaving Omni Chang'an, Walter did not stop his performing career. During the 2026 Spring Festival holiday, he performed five shows daily at Xi'an Qinling Wildlife Park, playing the violin and performing dances. He also tried micro-drama acting, playing the hero in the short film Chang'an Dancer, which was nominated for Best Director Short Film at the Sweden Film Awards.