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NAYARA LOPES 🤎

@nayaramlopes

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🇧🇷Principal dancer @philadelphiaballet
@blochdanceusa Influencer
Former 1st Soloist @oopperabaletti
@dancetheatreofharlem @nationalballet @abtschool

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“Chroma” by Wayne Mcgregor || “DGV” by Christopher Wheeldon 🤍

Feeling incredibly grateful to have been part of such a special program. Dancing “Chroma” and “DGV” has been an absolute privilege and an experience I’ll carry with me for a long time.

These performances have brought so many emotions, challenges and lessons in such a short time. Dancing “DGV” every show alongside @daysieyukita , following an unexpected debut that came sooner than planned, has been a journey of its own. I couldn’t be happier with what we’ve shared onstage and It’s an honor to dance with you 🫂❤️‍🩹

Both works have reminded me of the beauty of pushing beyond what you think your limits are, of finding strength when your body is tired and of how much can be achieved through trust, dedication and the people around you. These have been intense days, full of hard work and exhaustion, but above all, full of growth, joy and memories I will cherish forever ✨

A heartfelt thank you to @angelcorellaofficial , @shellybpower , @caskegard , @antoine_v , Neil and @bowmangoldstein for your trust, mentorship, guidance and support, to my fellow dancers, the orchestra and its wonderful conductor @conductormingluke , thank you for making this so memorable 🙏🏻❤️

@studiowaynemcgregor @wheeldony @philadelphiaballet #ballet #chroma #dgv #grateful #debut

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Speed, power, and relentless motion. ‘Dance at Great Velocity’ showcases the force and dynamism of contemporary ballet.⁠
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Wayne McGregor’s ‘Chroma’⁠
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Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse’⁠
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Twyla Tharp’s ‘In The Upper Room’⁠
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Only two performances remain! Join us at the Academy of Music for this electrifying triple bill and secure your tickets at the link in bio. ⁠
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📷: Alexander Iziliaev⁠
🩰: 1. Thays Golz and Jorge Garcia Alonso with Artists of Philadelphia Ballet in ‘Chroma,’ choreography by Sir Wayne McGregor, CBE.⁠
2. Yuka Iseda and Jorge Garcia Alonso of Philadelphia Ballet in ‘DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse,’ choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.⁠
3. Artists of Philadelphia Ballet in ‘In The Upper Room,’ choreography by Twyla Tharp© Twyla Tharp.

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Get to know the dancers behind the characters of Dracula.
Nayara Lopes will dance the role of Mina - who is the center of the story with her fiancé Jonathan and the obsession of Dracula.

Nayara Lopes is a Brazilian ballet dancer from Curitiba and a Principal Dancer with Philadelphia Ballet. She trained at the Escola de Dança Teatro Guaíra in Brazil and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre in New York.

Her professional career has included Orlando Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Philadelphia Ballet, and, most recently, Finnish National Ballet, where she danced as a First Soloist during the 2025–2026 season.

Throughout her career, Lopes has performed leading roles including Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Cinderella in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Nikiya in La Bayadère, Myrtha in Giselle, Gulnare in Le Corsaire, and featured roles in Swan Lake. Her repertoire also includes works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, Christopher Wheeldon, Helen Pickett, Jorma Elo, and Ulysses Dove.

In 2026, Lopes returned to Philadelphia Ballet as a Principal Dancer.

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Thank you @philadelphiaballet for a great performance! And so great to run into @_candicen_ ❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸❤️

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September
Finally saw my bestie in Philadelphia @nayaramlopes
We’re excited to be part of @balletbooks … stay tuned!

@linesballet had three successful shows in Philly ; big thank you to all the audience members that came and supported us … we appreciate you!!

Had a wonderful week in Greenville with @glennheggie teaching @fac_dance_gvl and @balletgvl

Check out the last slide for a good laugh 🤭 🐕 😱

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In Christopher Wheeldon’s ‘DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse,’ two dancers move through intricate choreography set to Michael Nyman’s score, capturing the exhilaration of movement and the energy of a journey in motion.⁠
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Get a glimpse into rehearsal before it takes the stage as part of ‘Dance at Great Velocity,’ October 15–18 at the Academy of Music. Tickets at the link in bio. ⁠
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🩰: Nayara Lopes and Arian Molina Soca in ‘DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse,’ choreography by Christopher Wheeldon.

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Continuing to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month with Bloch Professional @nayaramlopes , Brazilian Principal Ballerina at Philadelphia Ballet. ❤️

We’re honored to support her journey and celebrate all that she brings to the dance community.

Keep an eye on our Stories as we spotlight more of our Latinx Bloch family throughout the month. ✨

#Bloch #LatinxHeritageMonth

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• #rehearsal / #philadelphiaballet
• 🎥 @arianmsphotographer
• #music : @jamesmalikey
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#ballet #balletart

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Huge congrats to @philadelphiaballet and @varenhorstarchitects on the opening of the gorgeous new Philadelphia Ballet Center for Dance, a stunning addition to Broad Street and our city. It was an honor to emcee and be part of a truly special and spectacular celebration.. And as always, 👏👏👏 to @angelcorellaofficial and @nayaramlopes and all of the incredible dancers 🩰🧑🏻‍🩰We 💕you!!!

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The Grand Opening Celebration of our Center for Dance is quickly approaching!⁠
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The celebration begins with our Spotlight Soiree Gala in the Dance Innovation Lab on September 17 at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available at the link in our bio.⁠
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Then, on September 19, we’ll open our doors to the public for a free Open House and Community Celebration.⁠
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We’re so grateful to celebrate this significant milestone with you and, after years of dreaming, to finally share our new home with our community. We can’t wait to welcome you!⁠
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📷: Helm Creative Studio⁠
🩰: Artists of Philadelphia Ballet. ⁠

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#fyp
#dancemomporsha
#nayaralopes
#representationmatters
#ballet

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Years ago, when Brazilian dancer @nayaramlopes was preparing for her first international ballet competition, her teacher instructed her to lighten her skin to increase her chances of winning an award. The message that her dark skin was a disadvantage to be hidden left a psychological scar, along with a determination not to accept something like that again.

Earlier this year, Lopes was shocked to find herself in a similar situation. After four years as a principal dancer with Philadelphia Ballet, she joined Finnish National Ballet as a first soloist for the 2025–26 season. In late February 2026, when preparing to dance the role of Cupid in “Don Quixote,” she went to a company makeup artist as usual before dress rehearsal.

She noticed white makeup being applied to her face. “I was like, ‘What is happening?’ It wasn’t normal makeup,” she tells @dancemagazine. “I’m a Black dancer. You don’t do that. It felt like they were changing my race.”

Continue reading at the link in our bio.

📝: @avidotcom
📸: Nayara Lopes. Photo by @cdugganphoto, courtesy Lopes.

Descriptions
1) Lopes—a Black woman with dark curly hair, wearing a skin-colored leotard and pointe shoes—sits on an apple box, her legs crossed elegantly at the ankles, her right hand under her chin, looking steadily into the camera. Text: Unpacking a Painful Whiteface Incident at Finnish National Ballet
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