My home is New York City Ballet and I dance as a soloist woman in a company of nearly 100 dancers. I started as an apprentice in 2001 and — after spending ten amazing yet arduous, and sometimes downright grueling years in the corps de ballet — I was promoted to soloist with the company in February of 2013. For those of you who do not know me, that was a huge accomplishment. My journey was not necessarily uncomplicated or painless; in fact, quite the opposite. If you want that story, you’ll have to wait for the memoir.
Why Ballet? It is a pursuit of perfection. I like the idea of striving to attain a seemingly unattainable ideal. I love the lessons it teaches that carry over to real life, some being the discipline, the dedication, the love. I like being called a Ballerina. Despite being lumped into this whole “Ballerina equals naive, slightly emotionally unhinged woman complete with body dysmorphia” stereotype of today. I view myself as the complete antithesis of that idea. Think of me as “The Rogue Ballerina.”
I’m proud to say that I’m New York City Ballet’s first Asian American, let alone Filipina American woman, ever to be promoted to an upper tier. There are a few things I’m known for at New York City Ballet in addition to being one of the company’s on staff comedians, a high risk for falls, and really bad at doing my own hair. I’m really good at cutting the tension in a rehearsal room. For my dance repertoire, I suggest you click here.
The story only starts at New York City Ballet. I also love musical theater. And yes, I do sing! The year 2015 introduced me to the wonderful community of artists that exists just a few blocks away in the Theater District. Honestly, I don’t know what took me so long. So when I’m not dancing the halls of the David H. Koch Theater, I’ve started pursuing and making some pretty fun “cameos,” if you will, in the musical theater world. Keep your eyes peeled. I may surprise you where you see me next.
If you want to learn about my work off stage, I encourage you to read up on Final Bow for Yellowface, which I confounded with partner-in-change Phil Chan.
Then I’d love for you to check these foundations out! The first two give me the great honor of sharing hope and the gift of dance to those less fortunate around the globe. Click here and then click here to learn about Arteamor and Orphaned Starfish. And for my furry friends you can help SAVE THEM ALL here. I’m also very much involved in American Dance Machine for the 21st Century. If you don’t know the company and its great mission, you can educate yourself here.
That gives you an idea of who I am and what I do. I’m an artist. I live to perform. I gladly accept new challenges and thrive on being uncomfortable artistically. My happiness is found in having you on the edge of your seat watching, forgetting all those reasons you decided to escape to the theater in the first place.
