Birthplace
La Havana, Cuba
Dance Training
National Ballet School of Cuba
National Ballet of Cuba
Year Joined
2015
Promotions
First Soloist - 2019
Soloist - 2017
Demi Soloist - 2017
Favorite Ballet
Manon, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, and Don Quixote
A Defining Moment
While I was with National Ballet of Cuba, I was given the opportunity to the dance the role of Clara in The Nutcracker which was the beginning of more principal and soloist roles. Other moments include dancing the same role as premier dancer Yanela Pinera in “Flora”, which gave me the chance to showcase my abilities. And my most significant moment was performing the Grand Pas de Deux in Coppélia as Swanhilda.
BIO
Mónica Gómez is a native of Cuba where she graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba under the direction of Ramona de Saa. Having studied under such renowned teachers as Fernando, Alberto and Alicia Alonso, Marta Iris Fernandez, Esvetlana Ballester, Loipa Araujo, she went on to compete and receive several 1st place awards as both soloist and partner in such competitions as National Competition for students of ballet Havana 2009 and XI International Ballet Competition for students of Havana.
From 2014 to 2015, Ms. Gómez danced professionally with National Ballet of Cuba (Nacional Ballet de Cuba), where she has danced various works and performed internationally. Some of her professional experience includes roles such as Cupid in Don Quixote, Variation in Paquita, Clara and Arabian Pas de Deux in The Nutcracker as well as performing in several new works created with National Ballet of Cuba. In 2015, Ms. Gómez joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice. In March 2017, she was promoted to demi soloist after her break out performance in Wayne MacGregor's Dyad 1929. She became soloist during Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling in the role of Princess Stephanie in September 2017. Her promotion to First Soloist was in July 2019.
Since joining Houston Ballet, Ms. Gómez has performed in works such as Stanton Welch's The Nutcracker (Clara, Sugar Plum Fairy and Chinese), Swan Lake (Odette/Odile), Giselle (Zulma and Wilis), Son of Chamber Symphony and Brigade and Tapestry; Ben Stevenson’s The Sleeping Beauty (Princess Aurora, Fairy Song, Princess Florine and Pas de Quatre), The Nutcracker (Clara, Snowflake, and Flower), Don Quixote (Kitri), Coppélia (Swanilda); Sir David Bintley’s The Tempest (Miranda); Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow (Valencienne); Wayne McGregor’s Dyad 1929 and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling (Princess Stephanie) and Manon.
Harper Watters
Tyler Donatelli