Emily Banuet Fiol was born in San Diego and raised in Ensenada, Mexico where she first started her ballet training at the age of 3. She danced at Ballet Del Mar under Alfredo Blancarte and Nubia Gutierrez until moving to the states. Emily continued her dancing career while attending different studios until finding San Diego Ballet where she started attending classes at the age of 13 under the direction of Robin Sherertz- Morgan. Joining San Diego Ballet she began training in several styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and modern. She has trained at Cultureshock Dance Center where she has learned the styles of Hip-Hop, lyrical, and Jazz funk. Emily attended Steele Canyon High School, where she graduated with a focus in Dance under Joany Gerner and Nicole Reich.
- What ignited your passion for dance?
What ignited my passion for dance was being able to watch and learn from many amazing dancers and instructors over the years. They taught me to connect with the music and how to listen to the emotions I feel when dancing. Dance has taught me a lot in life, and learning to express my emotions through dance is what continues to ignite that passion for dance.
- What inspired you to pursue a professional career in dance?
My mom was is what inspired me to pursue dance as my career. Growing up I had the opportunity to watch my mom dance as a professional ballerina in Ensenada, Mexico where I first started my ballet training. Witnessing my mom pursue her dream of being a professional ballet dancer made me want to be just like her.
- What is your favorite thing about being a dancer?
My favorite thing about being a dancer is being able to experience what it’s like to express myself in different styles of dance. I enjoy being able to constantly learn something new, and having the opportunity to do this for a living is by far my favorite way to start the day.
- What is your biggest dream for your dance career?
My dream for my dance career is to reach my fullest potential as a dancer, and to hopefully leave a big enough impact on my students that they would want to pursue dance as their career.
- When you’re not pirouetting and perfecting your pliés, what brings you joy?
When I’m not twirling in the dance studio, I find joy in teaching others how to dance. I have been teaching kids from ages 4 to 16 since I was only 15 years old and watching them learn and grow up in the dance world reminds me why I chose this as my career.
- What is the most transformative experience you’ve had as a dancer?
I think the most transformative experience I’ve had as a dancer was when I began to dance professionally with San Diego Ballet. Going from student to company dancer was a very exciting but challenging experience, and I would do it all over again to get to where I’m at today.
- What is your favorite ballet?
My favorite ballet has always been Swan Lake. I’ve never had the opportunity to watch a professional ballet company perform it live but, it is a ballet I have seen on film countless of times from several different ballet companies over the years.
- What is your favorite role you have performed at San Diego Ballet and what is a role you would like to perform in the future?
As of recently, my favorite role that I have performed with San Diego Ballet is the role of Snow White in the production of Sleeping Beauty. A role I would like to perform in the future is the role of Spanish in the production of The Nutcracker.
- What is your favorite local spot in San Diego?
My favorite local spot is Old Town, San Diego. There is always good food, music, and events happening in this little town and it’s one place that I have been visiting since I moved here from Mexico as a little girl.