Listen Archives - San Francisco Ballet · Listen Archives - San Francisco Ballet

SF Ballet Corps de Ballet Alexis Valdes and Simone Pompignoli

·19 min·1 clip

Alexis and Simone realized at age seven that ballet requires years of intense focus and discipline.

This episode features an interview with San Francisco Ballet corps de ballet dancers Alexis Valdes and Simone Pompagnoli, conducted by dance educator Claire Sheridan. The conversation focuses on their personal journeys and technical experiences within the world of professional ballet. Host Katherine Barkman introduces the series as a way for audiences to connect with the company's artists. Simone Pompagnoli recalls his first partnering class in Italy at age 13 or 14, describing it as a moment of significant responsibility. He explains they began by learning to properly hold a ballerina's waist before attempting any lifts. Alexis Valdes shares that his training in Cuba involved practicing partnering with girls his own age, which created a mutually supportive learning environment. The dancers discuss the intense focus and discipline required from as early as seven or eight years old to succeed in ballet. A key insight is that both dancers viewed the challenge of partnering not as terrifying, but as an exciting step in their artistic development. Simone emphasizes the importance of clear communication and trust between partners to ensure safety and artistic cohesion. Alexis highlights how Cuban training integrates male dancers into partnering roles gradually, building foundational strength and technique. The episode reveals that their shared dedication stemmed from a childhood love for dance, which made the rigorous effort feel worthwhile. The tone is informal, educational, and warmly conversational, capturing a live interview setting. The style is personal and anecdotal, offering a behind-the-scenes look at dancer training. Ballet students and enthusiasts of dance artistry would love this episode for its firsthand technical perspectives. Listeners seeking a broad discussion of ballet repertoire or company history might find its narrow, personal focus less engaging.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Listen Archives - San Francisco Ballet