For the 2018/2019 Season, Charlotte Ballet II welcomes seven new dancers. Read below to learn more about them, and be sure to buy tickets to see them perform this season!

Hometown: Palm City, FL

Favorite Movie: Forrest Gump

My favorite music is… anything that speaks to me!

My advice for aspiring dancers is… to keep working hard because everyone’s timeline is different! And be supportive of other dancers; their success and doesn’t diminish your success.

What do you find most exciting about joining Charlotte Ballet?

“I am most excited to be able to work with and learn from the amazing artisitc staff at Charlotte Ballet, as well as the other dancers.”

Photo by Peter Zay

Hometown: Stony Point, NY

Favorite Ballet: John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet

I never miss an episode of…  “How I Met Your Mother.”

If I weren’t dancing, I would be… a head chef at a restaurant in New York City or in a career related to graphic design and technology.

Why did you want to come to Charlotte Ballet?

“Charlotte Ballet has an incredible range of work and it was very appealing to see a company that performs such an impressive variety of ballet, both classical and contemporary. I trust that being apart of the Charlotte Ballet family will help me develop as both a person and a dancer.”

Hometown: Guilford, VT

Favorite Movie: Across the Universe

Favorite Role Performed: Spanish lead in Nutcracker because the music and movement are so exciting and energetic!

I dance because… it is a beautiful and strong way to move every unique body.

Why did you want to come to Charlotte Ballet?

“I was attracted by the repertoire and esteemed choreographers that the company works with, and the strong sense of community that I get from Charlotte Ballet.”

Photo by Vikki Sloviter

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Favorite Role: Peter Chu’s Floating After Times and Mark Diamond’s Yamato

My favorite music is… anything Chance the Rapper! I’m also a fan of R&B and Soul music.

My favorite thing to do on a day off is… to hang out with friends, and to be surrounded by loving and positive energy.

What do you find most exciting about joining Charlotte Ballet?

“I am incredibly excited to work with such talented, powerful, selfless, and versatile dancers! Not to mention that Charlotte Ballet in under amazing direction, and I’m absolutely in love with the repertoire this company performs!”

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

Favorite Movie: Whiplash

My favorite thing to do on a day off is… Hang out with close friends and play my ukulele.

I dance because… it’s a necessity for me to live at my fullest. To me, I dance because I have to.

Why did you want to come to Charlotte Ballet?

“My mentor had told me about the incredible new work that Hope was bringing during her first year directing the company. It was this that made me very eager to reach out and become a part of the change she was creating within Charlotte.”

Hometown: Marthasville, MO

Favorite Choreographers: Sasha Janes, George Balanchine, Alonzo King

I never miss an episode of… “This is Us” because it is the best show I have ever watched!

At home, I have… two girl dogs named Francis and Piper. I also have a cat named Mr. Lovey and he’s 20 pounds!

What do you find most exciting about joining Charlotte Ballet?

“For the past two years I have been a member of Charlotte Ballet’s Pre-Professional program and I am ecstatic to continue advancing my training and artistry with such talented professionals! The most exciting thing about joining Charlotte Ballet II is having the opportunity of working beside dancers whom I have been inspired by for the past two years!”

Hometown: Newburgh, IN

Favorite Ballet: It’s a tie between Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Balanchine’s Serenade.

If I weren’t dancing… I would love to be a lawyer!

I never miss an episode of…“Parks and Rec.” I could watch it for the rest of my life and be perfectly content.

Why did you want to come to Charlotte Ballet?

“I have wanted to come to the Charlotte Ballet because of the wide array of dynamic repertoire the company does each year. From Balanchine to Petipa to Dawson and Thatcher works, there is nothing I love more than being pushed and challenged in all aspects of dance.”

Last but not least, we want to welcome back Humberto Ramazzina! This will be his second year as a member of Charlotte Ballet II.

Hometown: São Bernardo do Campo, SP, Brazil

Favorite Choreographer: Peter Chu

My favorite thing to do on a day off is… photography.

My advice to aspiring dancers is… to never give up.

What is your most powerful dance moment?

“Last year, a dancer had to leave the country and I had to learn his part in The Groove in a week for the performance. It was such a powerful experience because it was my first year in the Second Company and I had to quickly learn the piece in order to dance a fun ballet with the First Company!”

Photo by Peter Zay. With Chelsea Dumas in Dwight Rhoden’s The Groove.

Look for these new company dancers in the upcoming performances in Charlotte Ballet’s 2018/2019 Season!