The Art of Dance at Ballet Vero Beach

With Ballet Vero Beach’s company deep into its 12th season, and more stunning performances of Nutcracker on the Indian River on the calendar for December, artistic director and CEO Adam Schnell expands upon the nonprofit’s mission “to promote the art of dance as a universal language in our community and beyond.”

“As we settle into our second decade, we continue to leverage the platform we have been given, alongside the universal language of dance, to effect positive change in our community,” offers Schnell. “That work is centered around the artists we employ and the art we produce. It moves through our many phenomenal partners to create not only our performance season, but programs that are tackling early literacy, kindergarten readiness, affordable higher education, and access to the arts for all.”

We take a look behind the curtain and share the stories of some of the talented artists who are committed to engaging, educating, and entertaining people of all ages and abilities in our community, on and off the stage.

Katherine Eppink

Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

This is my 11th season with the company.

What role do you have with BVB?

I’m a principal dancer, the director of marketing, and the dancer representative on our board of directors. I wear many hats!

When did you start dancing?

I took my first dance class at the age of 6. I started in a recreational hip-hop class. My instructor saw some sort of potential in me and suggested I start taking ballet and jazz classes when I was 8. I fully committed to ballet being a future career for myself by the age of 11 after being cast in The Nutcracker for the first time.

What is your training routine?

We all take a daily ballet technique class, which is extremely important to prepare our bodies for the rigors of the day. I rarely take more than a few days off from class, even when we’re not performing. Beyond that, I love physical therapy, Pilates, and yoga, which help support my technique and strengthen my body.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

I like to take my time doing my hair and makeup. It’s relaxing and gets me in the headspace to perform. I also listen to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” before each performance—the ultimate power ballad.

What do you bring to the stage?

As a performer, the qualities I believe I bring are my spirit as a dancer and my love for the art and the audience. I approach every performance with humility. My hope is to impact the
audience in a positive way that leaves a lasting impression.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about ballerinas?

That we are stuck up or that we don’t eat. Quite the opposite—almost every dancer I’ve ever met is a foodie (and very friendly).

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

Dancers face so many challenges, and those challenges often evolve as the artist does. The physical challenges are obvious: we have demanding jobs that are incredibly difficult on the body. But the biggest challenges always remain the mental ones. Having confidence in who you are and what you bring to the art form is the best way to become a great dancer and is often a dancer’s greatest challenge.

Camilo A. Rodriguez

Hometown: Born in Mexico City, Mexico/grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico

How many seasons have you been with Ballet Vero Beach?

All of them, and we’re about to start season 12.

What role do you have with BVB?

Ballet master, principal dancer, and choreographer.

Since you’ve been part of all the seasons, do you have a favorite production that you’ve performed in? And if so, why?

The Sleeping Princess has to be it. Adam, our director, choreographed the amazing dual role of Lilac Fairy/Carabosse for me. It’s full of drama and dancing, as well as many tutu quick-changes.

When did you start dancing?

I was 16 years old. Growing up, I did sports, played the violin for a couple of years, and then got very serious about visual arts. During the summer of ninth grade I took a modern dance class and that was it. I told my mother I wanted to be a professional dancer—I’m not sure if I even knew what ballet was at that time.

What is your training routine?

Besides daily ballet class and rehearsal, I do a mix of Pilates-yoga-bodywork on the mat at home every morning.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

For many years I used to eat a piece of chocolate before each performance, and I never put my pointe shoes on the make-up table—not anymore. Nowadays, before entering the stage I just tell myself to stop thinking and dance.

What do you bring to the stage?

I’d like to think I bring years of experience and honesty, but one could never control what the audience sees.

What is the biggest misconception about ballet dancers?

That they are stuck up.

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

Self-motivation.

Is there a stage you dream of dancing on?

Not really; however it would be amazing if Ballet Vero Beach got its own space and I could perform in it while I can still dance … I’m getting up there in age.

Lindsey Kader

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

Two seasons—I’m about to start my third.

What role do you have with BVB?

Fellow.

When did you start dancing?

I’ve been dancing since I was 4 years old.

What is your training routine?

I do cross training like going to the gym and lifting, plus some running and Pilates.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

Before each performance I like to pop in some headphones and listen to music while doing my hair and makeup. I use this time to tune everything out and focus on myself. Often, I will find a moment in the hallway to stretch and visualize the performance before I head onstage.

What do you bring to the stage?

To me, being on stage is the greatest feeling out there. I love getting to share a story with the audience and put my unique touch on it. Performing is honestly my favorite part of dancing, and I’ve been told I’m a fun person to watch during a show. With that, every time I go on stage, I try to make it a personable experience for the audience, and I try to be as authentic as I can so people feel like they can relate. I consider my ability to do so my biggest strength as a dancer.

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

While many know that dancing is physically demanding, the mental demands of it are often overlooked. Dancing at any level requires the ability to practice discipline, focus, resilience, and self-love. It should be no surprise that to thrive in a highly competitive professional setting, you must be proficient in these things. In my opinion, you cannot meet the physical demands of dance without being at your best mentally. Your mind has the power to be your biggest supporter, and it can propel you forward in so many ways, but it also has the power to hold you back if you’re not careful about where it takes you. For that reason, I believe that it’s most important to have good mental health, because that’s how you become your strongest in every aspect of your dancing.

Darien Santos

Hometown: Falmouth, Massachusetts

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

I am heading into my second season with the company.

What role do you have with BVB?

I am a principal dancer, meaning I get cast in almost every ballet the company performs. I also like to help in administration roles when I can.

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing at the age of 4. My older sister was a dancer, and she is the reason I started with ballet.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

I love to listen to music before a show. Music is one of my favorite things on the planet. Listening to music calms me down, so I love to put my headphones on and listen to whatever style I’m into at the time, while doing my makeup and hair.

What do you bring to the stage?

My goal whenever I perform is to make the audience feel something, whether it is happy, sad, or some other feeling. My goal is to always have the audience feeling moved after watching a performance.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about ballet dancers?

That our industry is similar to other sports. I think a lot of people think ballet companies are run, and the way the dancers/staff are treated, is similar to sports like football, hockey, gymnastics, etc., when in reality it is very different. Ballet companies don’t get the brand deals and income that organizations like that receive. In a lot of companies dancers are paid very poorly and treated very poorly. I am grateful for Adam and Ballet Vero Beach, as it isn’t a company like that. Adam takes really good care of his dancers and always makes sure we are doing okay mentally and physically so each of us can be the best dancer and person we can be!

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

I think my biggest challenge is knowing when to slow down and take a step back, take a deep breath and try again. Dance, ballet especially, is so repetitive, and ballet dancers often just keep pushing themselves, and also whatever they’re working on. We often forget to take a step back and reset, whether it is just working on a specific step over and over again or working on a full-length ballet.

Abriella Mauldin

Hometown: Satellite Beach, Florida

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

This is my third season.

What role do you have with BVB?

I am a fellow with the company. In addition to dancing in BVB’s performances, fellows are enrolled in college full-time at Indian River State College and work with The Learning Alliance in schools across the county.

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing when I was 4 years old but didn’t start doing ballet until I was 8.

What is your training routine?

On top of regular ballet classes, my training routine consists of various resistance and aerobic training. This keeps me in shape throughout the year and helps prevent injuries. I typically go to the gym three days a week and do an outdoor workout two days a week. After training, I always feel stronger and more confident in my dancing skills.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

I have a good-luck Lightning McQueen backpack that I bring to every performance with my makeup and essentials. There is no rhyme or reason for this superstition, but it has become a staple to my friends and me at the company.

What is the biggest misconception about ballerinas?

The biggest misconception about ballerinas is that we have to stick to a strict diet. There is no limit on how much or what we eat, but rather we are encouraged to eat food that gives us the vitamins and fuel we need to healthily sustain the high caliber of dancing.

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

The biggest challenge for me as a dancer is competing with myself. Many people struggle with comparing themselves to other dancers out there who may be more flexible, can do more turns, or have higher jumps. In reality, the only person that’s going to hold you back from your full potential is yourself. We forget that dance is an art form on top of all the technique and flexibility. The greatest artist isn’t the one that draws the straightest line but the one that turns the same line into a landscape. This will forever be a challenge for me as an artist, as I push myself to get a little better every day.

Franco Cubero Acosta

Hometown: Santa Clara, Cuba

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

I’ve only been dancing with Ballet Vero Beach for one season.

What role do you have with BVB?

Dancer.

When did you start dancing?

I started dancing at the age of 9.

What is your training routine?

I have a training routine at the gym of about an hour and 15 minutes before ballet class.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

I don’t have rituals before a performance. I just concentrate and believe that everything will turn out well.

What is your biggest challenge as a dancer?

Dancing with a high technical level but without forgetting the expression of the story.

Is there a stage you dream of dancing on?

There are many beautiful stages that I would love to dance on, such as the Opera de París or the Royal Opera House in London, but if I could choose one, it would be the Teatro La Caridad in my city (Santa Clara, Cuba), so my friends and family can watch me.

Ellie Marie Hennequin

Hometown: High Wycombe, United Kingdom

How many seasons have you been with BVB?

I’m going into my second.

What role do you have with BVB?

Company dancer.

When did you start dancing?

When I was 2 years old! I started with modern, theater craft, and tap as well as ballet, and around age 14 I committed to ballet more seriously. It just connected with me the most, and I loved the difficulty of it.

What is your training routine?

I go to the gym six days a week and take ballet class five days a week, and on top of those classes I take rehearsals when I’m in season.

Do you have rituals before a performance?

Always being early and making sure I take class before the show. After class I just love relaxing and doing my hair and makeup, etc., trusting that all the work I have done prior will pay off for the performance.

What do you bring to the stage?

I am a very driven person in everything I do, and with my career/passion, which is ballet, I think I bring even more. I’ve sacrificed a lot for this career, so when I dance in a performance I always just fully let go and really become myself. I think sometimes ballet is the only way I express that and also feel fully myself.

What is the biggest misconception about ballerinas?

I think that a big misconception is that what we do is incredibly easy, and that it is just a side job. I am constantly telling people that it is a full-time job that not only requires many hours of work at the studio, but also it really is a lifestyle once you leave work. How you eat, train, sleep. Dancers are athletes, and people are only just starting to understand that more.

Is there a stage you dream of dancing on?

A stage that I’ve always dreamed of dancing on is the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London. I’ve been lucky to visit many theaters, but this is my favorite.