Sonia Rodriguez Explained

Sonia Rodriguez
Birth Date:19 December 1972
Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation:Ballet dancer
Years Active:1990-present
Children:2
Former Groups:National Ballet of Canada
Dances:Ballet

Sonia Rodriguez (born December 19, 1972) is a Canadian ballet dancer. She joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1990 and was promoted to principal dancer in 2000. In 2022, she retired as the longest serving dancer the company.[1] [2]

Biography

Born in Toronto, she moved to Madrid, Spain at age five with her family, where she received dance training with Pedro de la Cruz. She also studied at the Princess Grace Academy in Monaco. In 1990, she returned to Canada to join the National Ballet of Canada, and was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer in 2000. She has since danced roles such the title role in Cinderella and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. In November 2019, she celebrated her 30th anniversary with the National Ballet after a performance of Giselle.[3]

The Los Angeles Magazine praised Rodriguez's performance as the titular role in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, for "perfectly capturing the mix of playful innocence and bewilderment as she encountered one strange scene after another during her journey."[4] On Rodriguez's portrayal of the title role in Cinderella, the Toronto Star noted she "retain a youthful romantic freshness but also finds opportunities to refine her interpretation."[5]

Outside of the National Ballet, Rodriguez has danced at numerous ballet galas. She also danced the role of Dulcinea in George Balanchine's Don Quixote, restaged by Suzanne Farrell, in 2005.

Rodriguez married Canadian figure skater, Kurt Browning, on June 30, 1996; they have two children. The family home in the Forest Hill area of Toronto suffered a fire on August 18, 2010.[6] They are now divorced.[7]

She was added to Canada's Walk of Fame in 2012.[8]

Rodriguez retired in March 2022.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sonia Rodriguez. National Ballet of Canada. 17 April 2020.
  2. Web site: Sonia Rodriguez retires this week after 32 years with the National Ballet of Canada . March 2, 2022 . cbc.ca . March 2, 2022.
  3. Web site: Sonia Rodriguez Celebrates 30 Years. Smith. Kathleen. 1 November 2019. National Ballet of Canada. 17 April 2020.
  4. News: Bernstein. Leilah. Review: The National Ballet of Canada at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. 22 October 2012. Los Angeles Baller.
  5. News: Crabb. Michael. National Ballet of Canada's Cinderella is embodiment of the heart's desire: review. 14 November 2016. Toronto Star.
  6. http://www.cbc.ca/arts/theatre/story/2010/08/18/kurt-browning-toronto-home968.html Kurt Browning and Sonia Rodriguez home damaged in fire
  7. Web site: In Conversation with Ann Rohmer - Episode 56: Kurt Browning . 105.9 The Region . October 30, 2021 . IC-AR.
  8. Web site: Canada's Walk of Fame Announces the 2012 Inductees. canadaswalkoffame.com. 2012-06-19. September 1, 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140421051022/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/press/canadas-walk-of-fame-announces-the-2012-inductees?p=1. April 21, 2014.
  9. News: Sonia Rodriguez to retire as principal dancer at National Ballet of Canada. Toronto Star. 9 September 2021.