Stephanie Maiorano joined San Diego Ballet in 2007 and has performed principle roles in: Suite Italian, Romeo et Juliet, Firebird, The Many Loves of Don Juan, The Nutcracker, Love 20 Cents the First Quarter Mile, Les Sylphide,, Aurora Wedding pas de deux, and The Seven Beauties. Soloist roles include Mambomania, Sweet Synergy, Carnival of the Animals, Rhapsody, Arthur Murray’s Dance Secrets, Echale Salsita, and Helena in A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Previous Companies include Southern California Ballet and Houston Ballet Studio Company. While the principle dancer at Southern California Ballet, Stephanie performed the title roles in Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, Paquita, Coppelia, as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.
While a member of the Houston Ballet Studio Company, she performed Ben Stevensons Blue Bird Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty, and Dying Swan; also leading roles in Stanton Welch’s Fingerprints and Blue, with soloist roles in Stanton Welch’s Chairman Dances, and Long Winding Road.
Stephanie was featured in the San Diego Union Tribune under Notable San Diegans. She also appeared in an upcoming documentary intended for release nationally, on PBS, entitled “Ineffable,” (by Emmy-award winning Livingston Kay Productions) a documentary about the struggle to keep the arts alive in this country (you can view the trailer at: http://vimeo.com/87890655). While competing in contemporary dance, Stephanie received the titles of Miss Dance Southern California” and Miss Dance Drill California”.
She is also the subject of a video entitled Making it Work by Reflect Films, addressing what it takes to become and to be a professional ballerina, which can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/35840119; and this past December, Stephanie was was featured in the role of Sugar Plum Fairy on television in KPBS’s San Diego Ballet Presents: The Nutcracker
Stephanie holds her Chechetti diploma with Honors after training with Sylvia Palmer Zetler (National Ballet of Canada), and Ahita Ardalan (Paris Opera Ballet).
More about Stephanie…
Who influenced you most to become the dancer you are today?
It is hard for me to pick out just one person who greatly influenced my journey as a dancer, since I have been fortunate enough to work with so many inspiring teachers and dancers that molded me into the artist I am allowed to be today. So I’m going to have to go with the very first to tell me I had what it takes to become a professional. Ahita Ardalan (Paris Opera Ballet) pushed me to work harder than I thought I was capable of, and to stay focused on my own path. I owe so much to her, the incorporation of strength and elegance was something only a true Parisian can instill. I would not be the dancer I am had it not been for Ahita.
What was the funniest episode(s) you’ve experienced in your career?
The funniest story would have to be my Flying Cook Debacle. While a member of HBII, I performed as a “flying cook” in Ben Stevenson’s: The Nutcracker. As a flying cook I would be dressed in full chef gear, complete with chef hat and plastic wings, and be flown high across the stage with the help of four giant techies and an elaborate pulley maneuver. On the other side of the stage, another flying cook would go through the same process. One evening the techies for my pulley, and for the other unfortunate chef, accidentally released us simultaneously which resulted in an epic mid stage collision 20 feet in the air. Sounds dangerous, it was, but spectacularly funny! There was an uproar of laughter throughout the theater as we struggled helplessly center stage high in the air.
Who would you most like to share the stage with (living or dead)?
If I could share the stage with anyone it would have to be Fred Astair.
What goes through your mind just before you perform?
Right before going onstage I take a few deep breaths, attempt to shake out the nerves and then tell myslef to let go. It varies with ballets, but usually I just try to think as little as possible and focus on how I feel, and my own personal connection with the music and the movement.
What do you like/admire most about San Diego Ballet?
I am a San Diego native, so being able to dance in the city that I love is a rare luxury; but more importantly, the style of Javier Velasco’s choreography is why I am here. I have been drawn to Javier’s style since I first saw the San Diego Ballet perform Firebird as a student. Little did I know that years later I would step onto the same stage and into the role of Firebird as my first principle role with SDB.
Adopting Patrons for Stephanie Maiorano
Barbara Kingston