Monike Cristina

was born in São Paulo, Brazil and started ballet at age 6. She was awarded a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York and also won the jury award. In the same year she was invited to participate in the Tanzolymp in Berlin. In 2009 she began her association with Cedan (Cia Estável de Dança) and in 2012 was awarded the silver medal at the XX International Dance Seminar of Brasilia.

In 2012 participated in Cuballet under the direction of Laura Alonso, dancing the role of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake. She was part of the Cia Jovem Do Teatro Bolshoi Brazil, performing in Paraguay and Switzerland. She was invited to be part of the tour of Black Swan and Virtuosos in twenty-three cities in Russia. She joined Joburg Ballet In 2016 where she now holds the rank of Senior Soloist. With the company she has danced leading roles in Snow White, Carmen, Raymonda, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Don Quixote.

She has been a part of several productions with different companies along her career. The repertoire she has performed includes Odete/Odile in Swan Lake with Cuballet by Laura Alonso, Graduation Ball, Diana & Acteon, Don Quixote, Talisman, Majissimo, white swan pas de deux, Esmeralda (Camilla Pupa), Três Movimentos (Eduardo Bonnis), Encontros (Daniela Severian) and Tanguetto (Cesar Albuquerque) with Cedan. With Companhia de Danca Campos dos Goytacazes, she performed Spring Waters by Clélia Serrano e No Silencio da Escuridão uma Luz Me Guia by Lucas Axel. With Cia Jovem Bolshoi: Esmeralda by Galina Kravichenko and Ariana by Cassi Abranches. With São Paulo Cia de Dança she performed La Sylphides by Mario Galizze. Monike is currently a Senior soloist with Joburg Ballet, where she has performed the principal roles of Snow White by Iain MacDonald, Carmen by Veronica Paeper, Raymonda by Guivalde de Almeida, Nutcracker by Angela Malan, Cinderella by Iain MacDonald, Giselle by Down Weller, Sleeping Beauty by Maina Gielgud, Don Quixote by Iain MacDonald and Trancendence and Joy by Kevin Durwaell, which she performed at the Gala New York Stars in Cape Town alongside dancers from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.

Find her on Instagram: @monikecs