Lorena Feijóo
Director of Pre-Professional Program
Ballet Mistress
International Ballet Star & Former Principal, San Francisco Ballet
Internationally renowned ballerina known for her impeccable technique, virtuosity and musicality. Ms. Feijóo has danced every major classical critical acclaimed role in the ballet repertoire. She has performed important contemporary works by today’s most influential and renowned choreographers such as Balanchine, Tudor, Forsythe, Wheeldon, Lubovich and Morris.
Ms. Feijóo regularly appears on international stage sold-out audiences including: New York, Paris, Tokyo, London and Milan. Ms. Feijóo has forged memorable partnerships with Carlos Acosta of the Royal Ballet, Jose Manuel Carreño of American Ballet Theatre and Yuri Possokhov of the San Francisco Ballet.
The key to Ms. Feijóo’s artistry is her eloquence in expressing emotion. Her performances are not merely a display of impeccable technique; more importantly, they are elevated by an uncanny display of character. She not only dances her roles, she becomes them. New York Times dance critic, Anna Kisselgoff, describes her as “a dancer of astonishing dramatic impact”. Octavio Roca of The San Francisco Chronicle remarked, “she is exquisite, sensual and simply unforgettable.”
Whether dancing classical or contemporary ballets, Ms. Feijóo infuses her unique style and presence to every role she portrays. Ms. Feijóo can dazzle with sensuality and bravura portraying Kitri in Don Quixote, or heartbreakingly seduce in arguably the richest and most demanding role in classical ballet – Giselle. Her dancing incorporates classical purity, intuitive musicality, insightful intelligence and poignant lyricism. Nothing is superfluous or superficial – she means every step.
Ms. Feijóo was born and trained in Havana, Cuba where she became Prima Ballerina at the Ballet Nacional de Cuba under the direction of legendary Prima Ballerina, Alicia Alonso. She won the Bronze medal at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria 1985. In 1990, Ms. Feijóo left the Ballet Nacional de Cuba to pursue other artistic opportunities. She became Principal dancer of Ballet de Monterrey (1990-1993) and The Royal Ballet of Flanders (1993-1995). In 1995, Ms. Feijóo moved to Los Angeles to help establish Ballet of Los Angeles a project that never came to fruition due to financial problems. She then joined The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago as Principal dancer (1995-1999). Ms. Feijóo joined San Francisco Ballet in 1999 as a Principal dancer under the direction of Helgi Tomasson until her retirement in 2017.
Lorena’s sister, Lorna Feijóo, also Prima Ballerina of Ballet Nacional de Cuba, joined Boston Ballet in 2003 as Principal Dancer. Together, they form the only Prima Ballerina dynasty in ballet history. Lorena and Lorna Feijóo created a sensation by performing together in Boston’s Ballet production of Swan Lake in May 2004. The sisters interchanged the roles of Odette (the white swan danced by Lorna) and Odile (the black swan danced by Lorena). The event garnered them the cover of Pointe Magazine for the May 2004 issue.
Ms. Feijóo was awarded The Isadora Duncan Dance Award in April 2004 along with her Cuban partner Joan Boada for their performance of San Francisco Ballet’s production of Don Quixote.
Lorena's artistic versatility has allowed her to transcend the ballet world. She has performed in films, theater, singing and dancing in musicals and in Television along with actor and director Andy Garcia in the film Lost City. With Rob Nielsen in Collapse and Denis Demirer in Last Girl. She premiered the play Tosca at The Geary Theater with The American Conservatory Theater, under the direction of Cary Perloff and was coached by Rita Moreno for the role of "Anita" in Jerome Robbins' West Side Story. Additionally, two episodes of the iconic Sesame Street were written for her and her sister Lorna Feijóo former Prima Ballerina of Boston Ballet. They were both invited to appear in the number one rated prime-time TV show Dancing with the Stars partnered by American Ballet & Theatre star Jose Carreño.
Ms. Feijóo is thrilled to join her sister Lorna as Ballet Mistress and Director of the Pre-Professional Ballet Program at Feijóo Ballet School. Lorena resides with her adorable daughter Luciana in League City, Texas near her sister and their mom.
