Fernanda Oliveira (born 1980) is a Brazilian ballet dancer. She is a lead principal with

English National Ballet English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin as London Festival Ballet and based in London, England. Along with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Northern Ballet and Scottish ...

Early life

Oliveira was born in

Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro ( , , ; literally 'River of January'), or simply Rio, is the capital of the state of the same name, Brazil's third-most populous state, and the second-most populous city in Brazil, after São Paulo. Listed by the GaWC as a b ...

. She started ballet at age 6 as her friends were also dancing. She trained at Centro de Dança Rio, and later enrolled in the Royal Ballet Upper School in London.

Career

Oliveira first danced at Ballet Nacional de Santiago de Chile. She joined

in 2000, was promoted to soloist in 2003, first soloist in 2004, principal dancer in 2007, and lead principal in 2009. She had danced leading roles such as Odette/Odile ''

Swan Lake ''Swan Lake'' ( rus, Лебеди́ное о́зеро, r=Lebedínoye ózero, p=lʲɪbʲɪˈdʲinəjə ˈozʲɪrə, link=no ), Op. 20, is a ballet composed by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1875–76. Despite its initial failur ...

'', Juliet in ''

Romeo and Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetim ...

'' and the title role in ''

Manon ''Manon'' () is an ''opéra comique'' in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Henri Meilhac and Philippe Gille, based on the 1731 novel '' L'histoire du chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut'' by the Abbé Prévost. It was first ...

'', and performed in one-act productions, including '' Etudes'' and '' In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated''. She had also originated the role of Gerda in ''The Snow Queen'' and other roles in

Wayne Eagling Wayne Eagling (born 27 November 1950) is a Canadian ballet dancer, now retired. After more than twenty years as a popular member of The Royal Ballet in London, he became well known as an international choreographer and company director. Early li ...

's works, and had danced at

Concert for Diana Concert for Diana was a benefit concert held at the newly built Wembley Stadium in London, United Kingdom in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on 1 July 2007, which would have been her 46th birthday. 31 August that year brought the 10th ann ...

. ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' noted she danced the Rose Adagio from '' The Sleeping Beauty'' "with supreme control", and was "gravely lyrical" in ''

Adagio Hammerklavier ''Adagio Hammerklavier'' is a ballet choreographed by Hans van Manen to the ''Adagio'' from Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 29, ''Hammerklavier''. The ballet is plotless and danced by three couples. Van Manen made ''Adagio Hammerklavier'' for the ...

''.

Selected repertoire

Oliveira's repertory with the English National Ballet includes:

Personal life

Oliveira is married to English National Ballet first soloist, Fabian Reimair. They have one son and a daughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliveira, Fernanda Brazilian ballerinas Living people English National Ballet principal dancers People from Rio de Janeiro (city) People educated at the Royal Ballet School 1980 births Brazilian expatriates in England 21st-century ballet dancers 21st-century Brazilian dancers