Zoe received her ballet training at the San Francisco Ballet School and the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco. Since then, Zoe has worked professionally with the San Diego Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, Elle Vie Dance Company and the Osage Ballet.
Zoe joined the San Diego Ballet in 2011 and is currently a company member, performing in Principal and Soloist roles. During her time with the San Diego Ballet Zoe has been featured in such roles as the Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, Lady Capulet in Romeo et Juliet, Queen Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Kaa the Snake in the Jungle Book, the Dying Swan in the Carnival of the Animals and the Princess in The Firebird. Zoe also performed in the Salute to Vienna at the Walt Disney Concert Hall for the 2023 New Years concert and in the West Coast premier of Sir Robert Cohan’s Stabat Mater.
During her time with the Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota, Zoe was featured in the principal roles of Lucy in Narnia: The Ballet and Princess Clara in the Nutcracker. Zoe is also an original cast member of Wazhazhe: an Osage Ballet and Principal Dancer with the Osage Ballet. Since 2012, she has toured extensively with the company, including to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, the Sesquicentennial Celebration in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and at the Festival of Families in honor of Pope Francis at his visit to the United States in 2015.
Zoe is an accomplished choreographer, creating works locally and internationally. Her Screendance film “Ash” made the official selection at the Wicklow Screendance Laboratory Festival in Ireland in 2022. In 2023 Zoe created Mind. Body. Connections. an evening of dance dedicated to Synesthesia in partnership with Journey Through the Senses. Zoe currently serves as the Education and Outreach Programs Manager for the San Diego Ballet. She is energized to pass on her more than 15 years of professional experience to her students and works to provide opportunities to young dancers to fulfill their potential. She is excited to return to San Diego Ballet for her 11th season.
Who has influenced you the most to become the dancer you are today?
I cannot remember a time when I was not aware of art in some shape or form. My mother and father are both artists and I owe it to them for a lifetime of exposure, appreciation and freedom to both experience and create art.
What goes through your mind just before you perform?
I always check my costume from head to toe and make sure my pointe shoe ribbons are sewn around my ankles.
What is the funniest episode/episodes you’ve experienced in your career?
In one ballet I had to play a promiscuous kangaroo. I think that mental image speaks for itself.
Who would I most like to share the stage with living or dead?
If I could share the stage with anyone I would have to say Mikhail Baryshnikov.
What do you like/ admire about San Diego Ballet?
The San Diego Ballet’s mission speaks to me as I believe that art is a very important piece in the fabric of our communities. Javier Velasco’s artistic vision and dynamic choreography is also another reason I love this company. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the San Diego Ballet and I am happy to return for my sixth season.