Haley BLACKWELDER
Corps de Ballet
Ballet San Antonio
Hometown:
San Antonio, Texas
Joined BSA:
2022
Promotions:
Promoted to Corps de Ballet in 2023
Haley Blackwelder is from San Antonio, Texas, and began her training at a young age, with Quenedit Ballet School, Under the direction of Ernesto Quenedit. There she performed numerous ballets and participated in ballet competitions where she received top 12 in both classical and contemporary categories at YAGP. As a student, she attended several summer intensives on scholarship including Ballet West, The Washington Ballet, and Ballet Tucson. At the age of seventeen, she joined Ballet West’s Professional Training Division where she trained for two years under the direction of Evelyn Cisneros, Jeff Rogers, and Catherine Batcheller. During her time at Ballet West she performed in their Academy productions of Western Symphony, Swan Lake, Raymonda, Coppelia, Don Quixote and several contemporary works choreographed by Francisco Gella and Rex Tilton. Additionally, she performed roles in Cinderella and The Nutcracker with Ballet West’s main company. Haley joined Ballet San Antonio in 2022 as an Apprentice and was promoted to Corps de Ballet in 2023.
Get to know Haley
When did you start dancing and why?
My mom put me in ballet when I was three, mostly because she used to dance when she was younger and thought it would be a good way for me to get some exercise. I found that I really loved ballet and started training more seriously around age nine.
What inspires you to be a professional dancer?
It is inspiring to me how ballet and dance in general can translate stories and emotions through movement instead of words. The way dance and music can make us feel connected to each other and seen is very special, and it’s what I found has motivated me as a student and continuous to motivate and inspire me in my professional career.
Why did you choose Ballet San Antonio?
I chose BSA because the company is close to my family and where I grew up. Additionally, I have always been very inspired by Sofiane, and I knew that it would be such a pleasure to train with her and be in a company under her direction.