Anya Lopez is a Filipino-American born and raised in San Diego. When she was 6, she began her training under Felicia Alvarez at Inspire School of Ballet in Chula Vista.
After attending the San Diego Ballet Summer Intensive in 2023, she transferred to San Diego Ballet School where she continued to develop her technique under Javier Velasco, Stephanie Maiorano, and Igor Yurlov while completing a B.S. in Environmental Science at San Diego State University. Anya has attended the San Diego Ballet Summer Intensive, assisting as a chaperone while participating in the program. During her time as a student she has trained in numerous styles including ballet, contemporary, jazz, tap, modern, and character. She has also explored other styles such as heels, jazz funk, hip hop, and Philippine Cultural dances throughout her time in university until she graduated in 2026.
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Watching my first ballet performance, I fell in love with the sets, atmosphere and especially the dancing. I started attending ballet classes immediately after.
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My first year in San Diego Ballet School made me realize I could pursue dance professionally. Growing up, I was told I would go to college and then get a job in STEM. While it was difficult balancing my studies and training, that initial season showed me how much I enjoyed the rehearsal process, especially during Nutcracker and Giselle, in addition to refining my technique. From then on, I knew I wanted to fully commit to dancing professionally after completing my degree.
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I love the sense of community. Whether at the university level or in professional studios, sharing space with people who match your passion and drive to express themselves creatively is very heartwarming.
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I hope to continue dancing professionally as long as possible and reach my fullest potential as a dancer. Whether it’s in ballet or another style, I want to continue dancing and hopefully inspire my students.
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I like to hang out with friends and family, try new cafes around San Diego, cooking, and journaling. I also enjoy teaching at my old studio, passing down my love of dance to my students.
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My first serious injury. I suffered a concussion during an onstage collision at a culture night performance, and my physical health began declining. I had to pause my training at San Diego Ballet School and take a year off to recover and finish my degree. During this time, I realized how much dance had become part of my life, and stepping back made me feel like I was missing a part of myself.
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Giselle
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La Fantasmas in Giselle. In the future, I would like to perform in Mambomania; the choreography and energy is what initially drew me to San Diego Ballet’s repertoire.
- Convoy Street! There are a lot of yummy food spots I enjoy, like Keep Coffee, Tasty Noodle House, and Sunday Ice Cream.