Every dancer has a story, and Claudia Suárez‘s (Apprentice Ballerina, with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida) story sees her fleeing her home in politically unstable Venezuela and landing on the stage in Miami.
19 year old Claudia started dancing at the age of 5, however her training was interrupted by having to move numerous times and eventually travelling with her mum to London, where she studied for a time with the Central School of Ballet.
In Miami, Claudia trained with the Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet in North Miami Beach, Florida, graduating in 2015.
As a budding ballerina, Claudia won the Silver Medal at the Caracas National Ballet Competition, and was awarded Top Ten Dancer at Universal Ballet Competition in Florida.
At the age of 15, she won a scholarship to attend Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida’s Summer Intensive, which led to being appointed as a Trainee and then a year later promoted to Apprentice.
Claudia shares her unique experience of becoming a ballerina, and how disruption and sacrifice have shaped her young career, her experience entering into competitions, and being photographed by the famous dance photographer Gene Schiavone.
Claudia gives us an insight into her daily life as an Apprentice, working alongside seasoned dance professionals, the challenges she’s had to over come, her aspirations for the future and her deep love of dance and dance history.
We are proud to have Claudia sharing her love of writing as a contributor for The Wonderful World of Dance.
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