EP 30 Meet Anastacia Holden and Move with Her!

  Anastacia Holden joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2005 following two seasons as an Arpino Apprentice.  Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ms. Holden was first interested in international folk dance and started ballet at the local YMCA at the age of seven. She began serious study with Judy Rice at the University of Michigan and later continued her training under Prima Ballerina Maniya Barredo in Alpharetta, GA. Since joining the Joffrey, Ms. Holden has enjoyed performing in many ballets including: Cinderella (Spring Fairy); Cloven Kingdom; Don Quixote (Amore); Giselle (Peasant Pas de Deux);The Green Table (the Young Girl); Infra; In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated; La Bayadère (Gamzatti); Maninyas (first Pas de Deux); Night; The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum, Clara); Othello (Bianca); "...smile with my heart;" Swan Lake (Cygnets, Pas de Trois); Tarantella; and Viva Vivaldi. She has originated roles in works by Nicolas Blanc, Donald Byrd, Val Caniparoli, James Kudelka, Jessica Lang, Edwaard Liang, and Stanton Welch, and she has been honored to dance in numerous works by Joffrey co-founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. In 2010, Ms. Holden co-founded the non-profit Embarc, a three-year program that provides community-driven, experienced-based learning opportunities to low-income high school students to inspire and prepare them for college and career success. Her other interests include reading, travelling, cooking and crochet. @anastaciaholden  www.embarcchicago.org