GABRIELA BAIERLE is a graduate student at North Dakota State University, currently pursuing a Masters of Architecture after having received her Bachelor of Environmental Design in May of 2012. Born and raised in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, Gabriela has been dancing for the past 18 years and is thrilled to begin her second season with the Fargo-Moorhead Ballet. She is trained primarily in ballet, however her background goes from classical ballet to modern jazz to hip hop to contemporary,. While dancing in Brazil, Gabriela participated in nationally-recognized ballet and jazz competitions for several years, with Ballet Margo Brusa and Endança Jazz & Co. During her time in Fargo, she had the honor to participate in productions such as FM Opera’s Hansel & Gretel, Moscow Ballet’s The Nutcracker, and most recently FM Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty.
Q. How long have you trained as a dancer, what styles are you trained in, and what is your favorite style of dance?
A. I have been dancing since I was three years old, mainly in classical ballet. For a couple of years, I took a break from ballet and tried modern jazz and hip-hop. My favorite is still ballet, even though jazz was really fun.
Q. How long have you danced with the Fargo Moorhead Ballet company?What is your favorite thing about being in the company?
A. This is my second season with the company. I participated with the 2010-2011 company as a part of the corps de ballet. My favorite thing is that it is a great escape valve for me, considering I am a full-time graduate student. I love being able to focus on ballet for a little while before having to get back into my coursework.
Q. What activities do you engage in outside of dance?
A. Graduate school, studying architecture. I also work as an architectural intern and a graduate research assistant for my Department at NDSU.
Q. What do you look most forward to in the 2012-2013 FM Ballet Season?
A. I am very excited to join the company as a principal member, as well as to participate in The Nutcracker performance. I am also looking forward to having Miss Liisa as our ballet mistress.
Q. What is something quirky about yourself that you would like to share with us?
A. I get scared extremely easy! If someone is standing right by me and I notice them suddenly, I will jump right up. It’s quite ridiculous.
