The Paris Opera Ballet is one of the most renowned ballet companies in the world, based at the Palais Garnier opera house in Paris, France. Established in 1661, it is the oldest and largest ballet company in the world. The company is known for its technical precision and expressive choreography, performing both classical and contemporary works.
And a Dominican, Alexa Torres is dancing with the Paris Opera Ballet.
Alexa Torres debuted for Dominican audiences during the 15thh edition of the World Dance Stars Charity at the Eduardo Brito National Theater on Saturday, 24 August 2024 evening.
Here on vacation, she has been sharing her inspiring story of how she got to the pinnacle of the ballet world for Diario Libre and Listin Diario readers.
Alexa Torres received her early dance training in her hometown of Santiago, Dominican Republic. From an early age, as little girls in Santiago do, she studied dance at the Ballet Santiago directed by Norma García. She would win the Premios Eladio de Cuello in Dominican Republic 2012.
She had a strong calling. As a teenager she decided she wanted a career in dance. Despite all the naysayers, she had the unconditional support of her parents.
At just 14 years old, she moved by herself from the Dominican Republic to the United States to train at the elite Kirov Academy in Washington DC. where she was one of the only hundred students worldwide to be accepted and with a full scholarship.
She would continue to overcome some very big obstacles along the way to achieve her dream to become a world class ballerina.
She would then be a The Washington Ballet Trainee Julie Kent, Michele Jimenez, Elaine Kudo, winning the USA IBC Jackson Mississippi The Tutu Scholarship.
She would perform in George Balanchine’s Imperial Ballet as one of the eight little girls in ‘Who Cares’ by Balanchine, as part of the ‘Pareja Dododo’ and one of the 10 ladies, in addition to my debut in the lead role of Aurora in ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ by Julie Kent’ with The Washington Ballet.
From August 2016 to August 2017 she would train and perform with the City Dance Conservatory Stanislav Issaev. She won the Youth America Grand Prix 3rd Place Pas de Deux Semi-Finals Top 12 New York Finals 2017
Alexa Torres continued to break barriers with her exceptional talent. The young dancer has become the first Dominican ballerina to join the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet.
While living in the Dominican Republic, Torres had dreamed of performing at the Paris Opera Ballet. She was given her chance in 2023 for a short period and has now officially has joined the company.
“I met a teacher from the Paris Opera Ballet and auditioned two years ago. In January of this year, I earned a short-term contract. Those have been the best three months of my entire professional life, something I can’t explain to the audience, the theater,” she told Diario Libre.
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29 August 2024