Marianela Núñez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marianela Núñez
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as Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty
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| Born | 23 March 1982 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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| Citizenship | Argentina United Kingdom |
| Education | Teatro Colón Ballet School The Royal Ballet School |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Current group | The Royal Ballet |
| Former groups | Colon Theater Ballet |
Marianela Núñez (born 23 March 1982) is an amazing Argentine-British ballet dancer. She is one of the top dancers, called a principal dancer, with The Royal Ballet in London.
Contents
Early Life and Training
Marianela Núñez was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has three older brothers. Her mom sent her to ballet classes when she was only three years old. At first, she took dance lessons in her teacher's garage!
When she was five, Marianela decided that ballet was what she really wanted to do. She joined the Teatro Colón Ballet School at age six. This was a big step towards her dream of becoming a professional dancer.
Becoming a Star Dancer
Marianela's talent was clear from a young age. When she was just 14, a famous dancer named Maximiliano Guerra chose her to dance with him. Soon after, the Colon Theater Ballet company asked her to join them. She danced with them in Buenos Aires and on tour, performing many important roles.
In 1997, at age 15, Marianela tried out for The Royal Ballet in London. This was a huge challenge because she didn't speak English! Even so, they offered her a contract. However, she couldn't work in the UK until she was 16 because of the law. So, she went to The Royal Ballet School instead. They promised her a contract the next year.
She quickly moved up the ranks at The Royal Ballet. In 2000, she became a First Soloist, which is the second-highest rank in the company.
Becoming a Principal Dancer
In 2001, Marianela got a big chance when she stepped in for an injured dancer in the ballet Don Quixote. She danced the main role of Kitri with the famous dancer Carlos Acosta. She did so well that the very next year, she was promoted to principal dancer! This is the highest rank a ballet dancer can achieve.
Since then, Marianela has danced leading roles in many famous ballets. These include classic ballets and newer, modern works. She has worked with many well-known choreographers, who are the people who create the dances.
In 2013, she won a special award called the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance. This award recognized her amazing performances in several ballets, including Viscera and Aeternum.
Celebrating 20 Years
In 2018, Marianela celebrated a huge milestone: 20 years with The Royal Ballet! After a performance of Giselle, the artistic director of the company, Kevin O'Hare, said she was "one of the greats of her generation." Many important people were there to celebrate her amazing career.
Marianela also travels a lot to dance with other ballet companies around the world. She has performed in countries like Austria, the U.S., Italy, and Australia. She often dances with Roberto Bolle and has even returned to the Colón Theater Ballet, where her career first began.
Personal Life
Marianela Núñez married fellow principal dancer Thiago Soares in 2011. They later divorced in 2016 but remained good friends and continued to dance together.
Marianela is now also a British citizen.
Amazing Performances
Marianela Núñez has performed in many famous ballets with The Royal Ballet. Some of her most well-known roles include:
- Kitri in Don Quixote
- Princess Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty
- Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker
- Odette/Odile in Swan Lake
- Juliet in Romeo and Juliet
- Giselle in Giselle
- Cinderella in Cinderella
- Alice in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Awards and Recognition
Marianela has received many awards for her incredible dancing:
- Best Female Dancer at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards in 2005, 2012, 2018, and 2022.
- Konex de Platino for Best Dancer of the Decade in Argentina, 2009.
- María Ruanova Award, 2011.
- Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance, 2013.
- She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2025 for her contributions to dance.
See also
In Spanish: Marianela Núñez para niños
