Hey there! I’m Monica Gomez and I’m currently dancing with Opera Nova Ballet in Poland. I would like to share with you my previous experience in the Ballet de Catalunya, which was very enriching and beneficial for me, in many aspects.
My professional career began when I passed the auditions that allowed me to enter the Trainee program of the Ballet de Catalunya, almost 3 years ago. Three years that I was working there thanks to the trust that my directors, Leo Sorribes and Elias Garcia, deposited in me. I remember those moments in which I had great enthusiasm and I had butterflies in my stomach, as I was about to have my first experience with the ballet world at a professional level. I also remember that I was very young when I started, with a great desire to work and improve, but at the same time without knowing how the ballet world was.
I would like to point you that in my first year as a Trainee, I had the great opportunity to create a leading role in “Fast Avance” created for the company thanks to Mr. Leo Sorribes, who was the choreographer. I keep a lot affection and emotion of that experience, which I consider made me improve a lot as well to grew up. After months of hard work and rehearsals, my directors saw my progress and they considered that I was prepared to dance in the company, offering me the position of corps du ballet, and of course, this is also one of memorable moments to which I keep a special affection.
Regarding the company life, the classes and rehearsals were tough and Mr. Garcia was pushing us as every-time so that we could improve more and more; I will always be grateful for that, as he made me improve not only physically, but also mentally, which I consider very important. Being strong in both aspects is essential when it comes to being a dancer. In addition, the trainee program not only offered me to gain professional experience in the studios and on stage, but also gave me the great opportunity to work alongside wonderful international dancers and choreographers. Being able to dance in the same performance with Marianela Nuñez, was a dream for me, as I admired her since I was a child and I had never imagined that I could step on the same stage with her.
Looking back, now that I’m dancing in Poland, I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Elias Garcia, for everything that he taught me, as well to Miss Angeles Lacalle, for teaching me dance beyond technique. Enormously grateful to both and to the Ballet de Catalunya for making me grow, not only as a dancer, but also as a person. It has been a wonderful experience at the Ballet de Catalunya, where I have been able to go through different stages and grow little by little and arrive to be the dancer who I am today.
To finish, I would like to recommend the Trainee Program, to all those dancers who still need more professional experience on stage or to those who they just graduated from their dance schools and who desire to be 100% ready to join the professional world. You will not only work hard and perform on stage with wonderful dancers, but you will also live unique experiences, that will enrich you.
If you are about to join the program don’t think twice! Personally I encourage you to do so, as it is the right platform from where you can jump into the professional ballet world.
I’m sure that you will have great experiences and fantastic moments that you will never forget.