Sierra started dancing at age 3, training predominantly at the San Diego School of Ballet under the direction of Robin Morgan (New York City Ballet) and Igor Yurlov (Bolshoi Ballet). Over the course of her training she’s had the opportunity to perform all over San Diego and the United States from New York City, to Florida, to Los Angeles. She won many competitions including YAGP, ADCIBC, and CA Dance Classics. While at these competitions, she was recognized for her technical execution and artistic performances, while she performed the Swan Lake (Odile), La Bayadere (Gamzatti) variations. Sierra spent her summers traveling and training under scholarship at top ballet schools in the USA- Houston Ballet Academy, Ballet West, and the Boston Ballet.
At age 16 she was offered a company contract and that season joined the San Diego Ballet. Over the past 8 years with SDB she has performed numerous classical and contemporary roles including Nutcracker (Arabian principal, Dewdrop, Spanish soloist) Afternoon of a Fawn Pas de Duex, A Midsummers Night Dream (Hippolyta), Que Bonito Amor (soloist), Mambomania, Stabat Mater by Sir Robert Cohan, Four Seasons (Summer), and more.
Sierra has also enjoyed performing and working in her local community, from shows with San Diego Opera, to outreach performances for youth in San Diego, to teaching the next generation of dancers.
1.What ignited your passion for dance?
I’ve always had a passion for dance, and ballet in particular since I was a little girl. My parents always tell the story of how when I was a toddler we had an old VHS tape of the Royal Ballet’s production of Swan Lake and how I would watch it on repeat, trying to copy the moves of the great ballerinas on screen. As soon as I was old enough to be put in classes they enrolled me at San Diego Ballet School, and it’s been nothing but ballet every since.
2. What inspired you to pursue a professional career in dance?
When I was 11, I remember being in ballet class and having a realization that all I wanted to do is dance, and I would do anything to make it possible. This was around the same time a mentor of mine (SDB dancer Chelsey Meiss Fain) joined National Ballet of Canada, and seeing the productions she was dancing in definitely inspired me.
3. What is your favorite thing about being a dancer?
I think for me it’s the feeling you get right after you perform. I always reach a level of exhaustion right before from rehearsing for weeks on end. You are putting everything you have into a role, and once you hit the stage goes all completely away. When you are done, it’s like “wow, I just did that”. There’s really no greater feeling.
4. What is your biggest dream for your dance career?
It might seem cliche, but performing either Sugarplum (I know), or Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. Both music scores are just beautiful, especially the grand pas de deux in the Nutcracker. And Juilet is such a technical and emotionally challenging role, I would love the opportunity to tackle it.
5. When you’re not pirouetting and perfecting your pliés, what brings you joy?
Teaching. I love working and building a connection with my students. It has been such a joy to share my love of ballet with them, and inspire them to possibly become a dancer themselves. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person through these kids and it’s something I cherish every time I work with them.
6. What is the most transformative experience you’ve had as a dancer?
My senior year of high school I had to take a step back from dancing. The years prior ,I was attending an alternative school in order to make time for dancing with San Diego Ballet, and during that time my studies fell behind. I was at risk for not graduating. It was devastating to tell our Directors that I would have to take a sabbatical and return to traditional high school to finish. Taking that step back made me realize how much I loved dancing and company life. I knew after the year was done that I would get right back into it, but at the time all I wanted to do was dance. Yes, I graduated on time, and I am so grateful I did, but it taught me how important dance is to me and how much I want to be a dancer for as long as possible.
7. What is your favorite ballet?
Romeo and Juliet or George Balanchine’s Jewels. The movement, the music, the emotion behind each role, is just breathtaking.
8. 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?
There are so many, but Homegrown is a standout. It so perfectly sums up a career with San Diego Ballet- jazzy, upbeat, and challenging. It was so much fun to dance and I love the ode to my hometown of San Diego.
I would love to revisit Audaz, which was a jazz ballet in collaboration with renowned trumpet player Gilbert Castellanos. When I first danced it I was still quite young, and while I did a decent job I would love to give it a second go now that I am older with more performance experience under my belt.
9. What is your favorite local spot in San Diego?
Ocean Beach. I grew up surfing the jetty with my dad, and now it’s a home to some of my favorite restaurants and cliff jumping spots.