Born: 1994
Nationality: Brazilian
Education: Escola Estadual de Danca Maria Olenewa, Rio de Janeiro, 2006-15, and San Francisco Ballet School, 2013-15
Previous companies: National Ballet of Canada (apprentice), 2015-17
Career: Joined the Royal Danish Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2017
Highlights from the repertoire with the Royal Danish Ballet: Symphony of Psalms (Jiří Kylián), Weimar (Nikolaj Hübbe), Raymonda (Nikolaj Hübbe) and The Nutcracker (George Balanchine)
Guest performances: Dido and Aeneas, Opera Atelier, Toronto, 2016, and Medea, Opera Atelier, Toronto, 2017
*****************************************************
What was the first ballet you saw?
Dalal Achcar’s The Nutcracker was the first ballet that I saw. It was a very colorful and grand production! Tchaikovsky makes it easy to fall in love with The Nutcracker, no matter what version. Watching this ballet for the first time, it sparked something inside me and fascinated me with the magical moments that a ballet can give you.
Why do you dance?
Because my spirit loves to dance! When I am on stage it is like a “spiritual transition”, it is a way that I can satisfy my soul. As hard as ballet can be, it is also very rewarding!
Why do you think that ballet is relevant today?
It can change lives just as it has changed mine.
Do you have a backstage story that you want to share?
The story that I am about to tell happened not very long ago. When we do the battle scene in The Nutcracker we wear these big mouse masks as part of the costume, making it really hard to see. Before the big battle I needed to go across and offstage, and accidentally I ran straight into the backstage lights. Thankfully, I caught the small lighting tower before it hit the floor, or anyone else.
Read more about Eric da Silva:
https://www.instagram.com/e.dasilva