As artistic director of Miami City Ballet (MCB), Lourdes Lopez is one of the ballet world’s most revered figures. A former soloist and principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Lopez danced for ballet legends George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins during her 24 years as a dancer. We caught up with Lopez to get the backstage details on all things dance, her self-care rituals and cheat-day treats, and more.
My full name is… Lourdes Lopez.
I live… in Miami, in the Grove.
I came to Miami when… my parents defected from Cuba in 1959. My sisters and I followed two years later.
I was raised in… Miami, but I moved to New York at the age of 14 to study ballet.
I first became interested in dance when… I was 6 years old. I started in a very small ballet school in Miami on Coral Way.
I got my first big break when… the School of American Ballet gave me a scholarship at the age of 11 to attend their summer course in New York. They also paid for my ballet classes in Miami throughout the school year, which allowed me to continue to train, as my parents could not afford the daily classes.
My first paycheck was… in 1974 when I entered New York City Ballet as a full-time company member. I think I got paid $110 a week.
A major life challenge came when… I hurt my foot and was told that I needed surgery and might not dance again. It was a very difficult time for me. However, the two years I spent getting back into shape allowed me to go to college, which gave me a very different perspective of the world. I also had my first daughter during this time. I don’t think I would have done those two things if I hadn’t been injured and had to get out of my comfort zone.
I stopped dancing professionally when… I was 39 years old, after 24 years in New York City Ballet.
My biggest successes have been… my two daughters, Adriel Saporta and Calliste Skouras.
A part of my current role with MCB that might surprise people is… as an artistic director, you can’t be focused on yourself, the way you must be as a dancer. At least for me, it is about three things: the dancers, the audience, and the organization. I’m here to serve those three things, and every day I wake up and think, “What do these three things need from me?”
The toughest part of my job is… trying to convince others of the importance of the arts.
Whenever someone tells me they want to be a dancer, I say… fantastic! Here are a few things to remember: make sure you love it (really love it) and make sure you’re ready to work hard and face disappointments, because that is how you learn and get better.
My secret obsession is… creating things with my hands, whether it’s knitting, crocheting, embroidering.
One bad habit I cannot break is… a nice, full-bodied glass of red Spanish wine.
When I want to relax, I… read books. I read mostly fiction, historical fiction, and sometimes a mystery (if it’s not too scary).
My fitness and self-care routine includes… floor Pilates and a mix of strengthening and stretching.
My favorite spot in Miami is… Bellini at Mr. C’s in Coconut Grove.
A major project I’m excited about is… Miami City Ballet’s fortieth anniversary. Not only will we honor our past by presenting works that have never been seen or danced in Miami before, but we will also commission young choreographers who collectively represent the American dance scene of today to create works for our dancers—all while artistically commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. As a city of immigrants, and as an immigrant myself, there is so much to be grateful for in our lives here in the United States.
Facebook Comments