DANCER HIGHLIGHT: Taylor Fikes

Photo courtesy of Taylor Fikes.

“At age four I used to corral everyone in the house and put on performances in the kitchen where I would twirl and dance around, inspiring my grandmother to enroll me in my first lesson,” said Taylor Fikes, who will be joining Ballet West as a Corps Artist for the 2024-25 season. “I loved ballet, but I departed to peruse other things like band, where I played the saxophone, AAU Basketball as a point guard, field hockey, and theatre.”

Growing up in Maryland, she reunited with ballet in eighth grade and became serious about the art form during high school. “One day during our ballet lesson, after much convincing from a peer, my instructor Mme. Lobanova shared her story with us. For me it was like a light switch and that was the moment I realized I could turn ballet into a career,” said Fikes.

Fikes then trained with, The Bolshoi Academy of Ballet in Moscow, Russia, The Joffrey Ballet, and recently danced with the Romanian National Opera Ballet. She shares what she has learned along the way saying, “Tenacity is perhaps the most important thing any dancer can have. There is no one right way to enter into this career nor is it always a straight path. I’ve learned the importance of connection, communication, and building a strong support system.”

She is looking forward to her move to Salt Lake. “Ballet West is a beautiful company I am looking forward to working with Adam Sklute, he is a Director I’ve long admired,” said Fikes. “Mr. Sklute is a tenured director with expansive vision clearly evidenced through his dancers, the repertoire, and the company’s reach. I am thrilled to join Ballet West.”