Nina left the Company in 2020.
Soloist
Nina is from Brazil and trained with Stella Maris Academia de Danca, with Camilla Pupa at EDAP and later with Miami City Ballet School, where she was also an apprentice with the Company. In 2014 she joined Ballet Nacional del Sodre in Uruguay, under the direction of Julio Bocca and most recently of Igor Yebra; she was promoted to Soloist in 2016. She joined Northern Ballet in 2018.
Learn more about Nina
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Jaú and raised in Araçatuba, both small cities in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
At what age did you start dancing?
I started doing ballet at the age of
Where did you train?
I trained at Stella Maris Academia de Dança in Araçatuba until the age of 13. Then I moved to São Paulo and trained at Espaço de Danças e Artes Paulista under the direction of Camilla Pupa, until I got a scholarship to train at Miami City Ballet School.
Previous companies
I danced at Miami City Ballet as an Apprentice for the 2012-2013 season. After that I joined Ballet Nacional del Sodre in Uruguay, under the direction of Julio Bocca, where I danced from 2014 until the middle on 2018, most recently under direction of Igor Yebra.
Awards/nominations/prizes
In 2009 I was nominated for Junior Principal Dancer Promodança (Brazil) and in 2008, 2010 and 2013 I won First Prize in the Grand Pas de Deux category in the ENDA National Dance Competition in Brazil.
Which Northern Ballet role would you most like to dance?
I am fascinated by the works of Sir Kenneth Macmillan and it is amazing that Northern Ballet has some of them in their repertoire. I also look forward to getting to dance in Northern Ballet’s own creations, like Cinderella, The Great Gatsby, Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid, among many others.
Career/training highlights
I feel really fortunate in having had the privilege of performing Juliet in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo & Juliet and Tatiana in John Cranko’s Onegin. I also loved being able to learn the style and perform many works by George Balanchine as well as big new choreographers’ ballets, it opened my eyes to the beauty of big and breath-taking movements.
What do you like most about being a dancer?
Being a dancer is really fulfilling to me because it is about challenging myself every day, both on technical and personal levels. I can definitely say that being a dancer has been shaping me into a better version of myself that no other career could have done.
If you could adapt one work into a ballet what would it be?
I think a ballet of The Phantom of the Opera would be just stunning. I have always loved the musical so I wish to see that in a full length production one day.
What is your favourite book?
As a teenager I loved Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries series, so I guess I grew up to like reading romance/comedy books. But I also love reading books to study and build up a character for a role I am dancing.
What is your favourite post-show meal?
Pizza or anything cheesy!
How do you like to relax?
I usually take my days off to just do nothing, stay in bed or on the couch watching a movie or TV show. But when I get a chance, walking by the ocean or in the park really put me in a great mood.
If you weren’t a dancer what would you be?
I am very passionate about cooking, specially baking. So chances are you’ll find me running a Café or Bistro when I retire from dancing.
Header photo taken by Justin Slee. Other photos taken by Emma Kauldhar.