BalletMet’s professional company recently welcomed four new dancers from around the world to its 16/17 ranks. Among them, Lisset Santander, originally from Matanzas, Cuba.
Ms. Santander began dancing at the age of 9 at Alfonso Perez Isaac Elementary and finished her training at the Cuban National Ballet School. She previously danced with the Ballet Nacional de Cuba, performing as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Kitri in Don Quixote, among other roles.
Meet her below.
If you weren’t a dancer, what would you be?
Fashion designer
Favorite book?
The Little Prince
Favorite meal?
Grilled salmon and any Cuban food
Surprising fact:
When I was starting my career, I was not conditioned for ballet—no lines, no elasticity, nothing. So I had to work really hard, harder than others, to get to my dream. It was very difficult being away from my family all the time because my school was in another city. But unconditional love for ballet was what made me strong.