Sasha De Sola

Sasha De Sola is a principal dancer at San Francisco Ballet, recognized for her versatility and artistry in American ballet. De Sola began her training at Central Florida Ballet Academy before earning a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., where she studied under Ludmila Morkovina. She also received a scholarship to study at Paris Opera Ballet School. Early in her career, De Sola earned the Best Junior Couple Prize at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, and a bronze medal in the Junior Division at the Varna International Ballet Competition in Bulgaria.

De Sola joined San Francisco Ballet as an apprentice and advanced through the ranks to become a soloist and later a principal dancer. She was appointed Diane B. Wilsey Principal Dancer and received a nomination for Dance Europe's Dancer of the Year. Her repertoire includes leading roles such as Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake," Aurora in "The Sleeping Beauty," the title role in "Giselle," Kitri in "Don Quixote," Cinderella in Christopher Wheeldon's "Cinderella," Manon in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's "Manon," Titania in George Balanchine's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Olga in John Cranko's "Onegin," and Princess Henriette in John Neumeier's "The Little Mermaid." De Sola has also originated roles in works by Stanton Welch, Dwight Rhoden, and Trey McIntyre.

Her performances have been reviewed by publications such as San Francisco Chronicle and The Guardian, which have noted her ability to bring both technical mastery and emotional depth to her roles. De Sola has appeared in international ballet galas in the United States, Malaysia, and Estonia.

Beyond her stage career, De Sola completed Harvard Business School's "Crossover Into Business" program and was named an inaugural fellow of Raising Leaders, San Francisco Ballet's artist development initiative. She graduated summa cum laude from Saint Mary's College of California with a Bachelor of Arts in Performing Arts. A bilingual children's book based on her life, "On Tiptoes - De Puntitas," was published. De Sola serves on the board of directors for Dancin Power, a Bay Area nonprofit that provides free interactive dance classes to hospitalized children. Through her work as a dancer, advocate, and leader, De Sola contributes to the advancement of ballet and dance education.