Birthplace

Atlanta, Georgia

Dance Training

Ballet San Jose School
Teen Dance Company
City Ballet School San Francisco
School of American Ballet
Apprentice Program Palucca University of Dance
Semperoper Ballett Dresden

Year Joined

2024

Previous Companies

Semperoper Ballett Dresden - 2013-2024

Favorite Roles

Des Grieux in Sir Kenneth MacMillan's Manon
Albrecht in David Dawson's Giselle
Prince Desiree in Aaron Watkin’s (Marcelo Gomez) Sleeping Beauty
Romeo in David Dawson's Romeo and Juliet

Summer pas de deux in David Dawson’s Four Seasons was the first principal part I had the honor of premiering and the entire process pushed me to places physically I didn’t think I could reach. 

Favorite Ballets

Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon was the first full length story ballet I had the opportunity to dance and it’s truly like living a whole lifetime on stage. Ohad Naharin’s Black Milk allowed me to delve into a new and extremely physical and spiritual genre of dance. Pina Bausch’s Iphigenia Auf Taurus was overall the most enlightening working experience I’ve had. The honor to dance one of her pieces on top of everything else that ballet embodies and the people I got to work with, was unbelievable. David Dawson’s Romeo and Juliet was my first opportunity to premier and create a leading role, and that version will forever live in my heart.

A Defining Moment

I have found returning to a role can be an immensely rewarding experience. As in everything, we can always improve, and returning to Marcelo Gomez’s recreation of Sleeping Beauty allowed me to grow in tremendous ways. Working with Mr. Gomez as well as Ms. Kent showed me a whole new world of technique and artistry.

Bio

Julian Amir Lacey joins Houston Ballet as a First Soloist in July 2024 from Semperoper Ballett Dresden. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Lacey began his training at the Ballet San Jose School, Teen Dance Company, City Ballet School San Francisco, School of American Ballet, and Apprentice Program Palucca University of Dance before joining Semperoper Ballett Dresden.

His repertoire includes Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, David Dawson’s Giselle, Four Seasons and Romeo and Juliet, and Aaron Watkin’s (Marcelo Gomez) The Sleeping Beauty.

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Tyler Donatelli

Danbi Kim