Argentina native Manuela Chaher Lavalle has traveled the world pursuing her career as a ballerina. Since the 23-year-old left home, she has danced in Moscow on her way to settling in the United States.
Can you share your career to date?
By the time I was 15, I had stopped traditional school and began going to the national Argentinian ballet school (Teatro Colón). That same year I was accepted into the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow (one of the world’s most prestigious ballet academies) and left my home to follow my dream out into the world.
From there I moved to the United States, where I danced with Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo, New York. Then I found my home away from home in Tennessee with the Nashville Ballet (where I feel I grew up both as a dancer and a person).
During my time with Nashville Ballet, I was selected to perform the famous Balanchine Western Symphony, was part of the creation process of “72 Steps” a ballet by Gina Patterson about women’s suffrage, performed Nutcracker, and was a soloist in “Breath of Fresh Mountain Air” choreographed by Julia Eisen.
Watch Breath of Fresh Mountain Air-Principal Couple Manuela Lavalle and Addison Goodwin-Nashville Ballet
I was also a part of Nashville Ballet’s Community Engagement Program, which brought…