Sara Mearns

Principal Dancer at New York City Ballet & Mental Health Advocate

New York, NY, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info
Athlete, Fitness, Mental Health, Overcoming Adversity, Performing Arts, Sports Motivation
Read More +
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Sara Mearns Biography

Sara Mearns is a principal dancer at New York City Ballet, recognized for her contributions to ballet and contemporary dance. Mearns entered the School of American Ballet, the official school of New York City Ballet, before becoming an apprentice and later joining the corps de ballet. She was promoted to soloist and subsequently to principal dancer. At age 19, Mearns was cast as Odette-Odile in Peter Martins's production of "Swan Lake," a role that has become her signature and for which she has received critical acclaim.

As a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, Mearns has performed featured roles in ballets such as "Symphony in C," "Jewels" (Emeralds and Diamonds), "Serenade," "Mozartiana," and "Walpurgisnacht Ballet." She has originated roles in works by choreographers including Justin Peck, Kyle Abraham, Alexei Ratmansky, Pam Tanowitz, Bobbi Jene Smith, Christopher Wheeldon, Guillaume Côté, and Beth Gill. Mearns's work extends beyond the NYCB stage; she starred in "A Dancer's Dream," a New York Philharmonic production choreographed by Karole Armitage and conducted by Alan Gilbert, which was broadcast nationally. She also made her Broadway debut in the "Lonely Town" pas de deux from the musical "On the Town," choreographed by Joshua Bergasse.

Mearns has received a Bessie Award for Outstanding Performer and was nominated for the Benois de la Danse award for best female performance for her role in "Ocean's Kingdom." She has also received the Dance Magazine Award and an honorary doctorate from the University of South Carolina. Her achievements have been recognized for both her sustained work with New York City Ballet and her performances in works by Isadora Duncan, Jodi Melnick, Wang Ramirez, and Matthew Bourne. Mearns has appeared as a guest performer with Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Cunningham Centennial Celebration, Jodi Melnick Dance, Bill T. Jones/Lee Ming Wei and Wang Ramirez, and in Dances of Isadora Duncan at Lincoln Center.

Mearns has spoken publicly about personal challenges, including a back injury that required an eight-month hiatus from dancing. This experience led her to advocate for injury prevention and improved physical therapy options for professional ballet dancers. She has also discussed her decade-long struggle with hearing loss, which affected her ability to hear musical cues during performances. Wearing hearing aids during a performance of "The Nutcracker" allowed her to regain clarity of sound in her dancing.

In addition to her performance career, Mearns has taken on roles as curator and creative collaborator. She performed "A Piece of Work," an evening of five world premieres at The Joyce Theater, and served as curator for New York City Center's "Artists at the Center" program, presenting a world premiere dance-theater piece exploring the challenges faced by artists preparing for demanding roles. Mearns is featured in "Stage Animal," a short documentary following the creation of one of the new works premiered at her New York City Center program. Offstage, she serves as an advisory board member of DanceNYC, on the artists committee of the Joyce Theatre, and as an ambassador to the Dizzy Feet Foundation. Mearns continues to contribute to the fields of ballet, contemporary dance, and arts advocacy.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Sara Mearns and other top speakers and celebrities.

Read more +

BOOK Sara Mearns

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/20/2026.

Sara Mearns Videos

I'm a Ballerina at the NYC Ballet — and I’m Losing My Hearing

I'm a Ballerina at the NYC Ballet — and I’m Losing My Hearing

Sara Mearns, principal dancer at New York City Ballet, has shaped her entire life around ballet, arriving in New York at 12 years old and committing...

Ballet Dancer Sara Mearns | The Movement | ELLE

Ballet Dancer Sara Mearns | The Movement | ELLE

Ballet dancer, Sara Mearns talks near career-ending injuries, and how she learned to put her body first.

Sara Mearns Dances Through One of New York’s Greatest Buildings | Cole Haan

Sara Mearns Dances Through One of New York’s Greatest Buildings | Cole Haan

Watch Sara Mearns of New York City Ballet improvise a stunning collision of beauty and heart inspired by a New York City architectural masterpiece.

See All Videos »

  • How do I book Sara Mearns to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sara Mearns for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sara Mearns, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sara Mearns or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Sara Mearns

    Speaking fees for Sara Mearns, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Sara Mearns are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sara Mearns, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Sara Mearns speak about?

    Sara Mearns is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Fitness, Mental Health, Overcoming Adversity, Performing Arts, Sports Motivation

  • Where does Sara Mearns travel from?

    Sara Mearns generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Sara Mearns’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Sara Mearns for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sara Mearns for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sara Mearns or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Sara Mearns is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sara Mearns for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Sara Mearns generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Maggie Kudirka, Valorie Kondos Field, Larry Komer, MD, Laurie Hernandez and Victoria Arlen. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sara Mearns for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Sara Mearns

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

1.800.698.2536

Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Sara Mearns or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

1.800.698.2536
Contact Us

TOP