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Lori Hernandez Headshot_edited.jpg

At some point, most little girls have a fleeting obsession with becoming a ballerina. The tutus. The pointe shoes. The pink. The sparkle. The magic. The spinning. The tiaras. Neck deep in the innocence of childhood, approximately never however do those same little girls have any concept of how impossible ballet is. And that is by design. Because if ballerinas were able to convey the sheer strength, will, stamina, endurance, challenge, and resilience required to achieve those ballerina dreams, they’d be in football, or soccer, or hockey, or softball - any sport where you can show on your face, on your body, in your interaction, in your execution, the impossibilities of the demand. 

But I picked ballet. And ballet picked me.  And would not want it any other way.

 

Like most artistic athletes, I started my initial training at the local dance studio, but soon outgrew its walls and enrolled at San Diego Academy of Ballet, under the direction of Sylvia Tchernychev. A refined, polished and high caliber school, my career was able to ascend to new heights as I worked my way up through the ranks at the Academy.

 

As my artistry and technique improved over the years, I was able to perform multiple principal roles from ballets such as The Nutcracker, Paquita, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Giselle and Swan Lake. I have participated in the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) for five consecutive years, placing top twenty four for classical ballet, out of 300 students.

 

Over the years, grateful for the opportunity to dance in productions such as Serenade, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Firebird and Rodeo!, La Bayadere, among others. 

 

Committed to redefining the role of a 'ballerina', I am merging my traditional Vaganova training with the freedom of a guest artist; a choice which has opened up limitless opportunities with dancers and locations worldwide including original contemporary works. 

 

Outside of the studio, I pursue a vegan lifestyle and genuinely enjoy creating content for my social media audience of over one million followers.

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