Meet new company artist Cristina Page, who just began her first season with the Charlottesville Ballet.
THE BASICS
Name: Cristina Page
Age: 23
Astrological Sign: Gemini
Hometown: Salem, Virginia
Role in C’ville Ballet: Company Artist
Check out this video of Cristina’s recent photo shoot for a project with local photographer Guillermo Ubilla of GXU Images:
FAVORITES…
Food: Mmm…peanut butter
Color: Purple
Book: I have too many favorite books, but Toni Morrison, Ayn Rand, and Dave Eggers make the list for favorite authors.
Movie: Love Actually (go ahead, call me cheesy)
Quotation: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”-Yogi Berra
Spot in C’ville: Integral Yoga–I love their smoothies!
NERDY DANCE QUESTIONS
Tell us about your dance background and training:
I grew up dancing at the Roanoke Ballet Theatre in Roanoke, VA, then had a quick stint in the Washington Ballet‘s pre-professional division during high school. I came back to Roanoke to train with Unurbat Gunajaav, then moved to Charlottesville to attend the University of Virginia in 2008. At UVA I danced and choreographed in many dance department concerts. I earned a BA in Modern Studies–an interdisciplinary program which merged studies in Modern Literature and Modern Dance. I previously attended intensive programs at the Kirov Academy, American Ballet Theatre, Paul Taylor, and the American Dance Festival.
What genres of dance do you enjoy?
All of them! I love watching and trying out all genres of dance, both performance and social. I dream of being good at hip-hop, but I’ll always have ballet and modern to fall back on!
What kind of pointe shoe do you wear?
I switch back and forth between Bloch Suprimas and Russian Pointe Rubins.
Favorite dancers or role models?
Merce Cunningham and my parents!
Do you have a favorite ballet:
La Bayadere. I love how different and more dark it is than the other classics, and the costumes are always stunning.
Tell us, why do you dance?
Because it feels great. Every day I have the opportunity to master something and challenge myself with something new.
OTHER
What other jobs/activities/pursuits are you involved in?
I will be heading to medical school in the fall of 2014! Woohoo! I also work in the Cardiac Monitoring Unit at UVA Hospital.
What other talents or passions do you have?
I play the piano and guitar for fun. I am also trying to learn the ukulele, but am not so good at it yet. I love the great outdoors-you can find me in the mountains hiking, backpacking, or skiing!
I am thrilled to be working with such wonderful dancers this year at the Charlottesville Ballet. They have welcomed me in like family, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to commit myself to dance for one more year before I start my career in medicine.
I also hope that everyone will come see the production of The Nutcracker Suite on December 21 and 22 at PVCC. I will be dancing the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Sunday 2:00pm show and can’t wait to share the magic of this holiday ballet with Charlottesville audiences!
Thanks for enjoying our “Meet the Artist” segment– and look for a new Charlottesville Ballet artist profile next month!
- Photo by Andrea Shirey Photography
(c) Charlottesville Ballet 2013