ARTIST

Jonathan Batista headshot

PRINCIPAL DANCER

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Joined OKC Ballet in 2017

Jonathan Batista

Jonathan Batista, from Brazil, trained at The Royal Ballet School in London, England before graduating from the English National Ballet School and Trinity College London with a degree in dance. Batista performed with English National Ballet, Miami City Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Boston Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet before joining Oklahoma City Ballet as a Principal Dancer for the 2017/18 season.

He has performed soloist and principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Rudolf Nureyev, Robert Joffrey, John Neumeier, Harald Lander, Val Caniparoli, Sir Frederick Ashton, Christopher Wheeldon, August Bournonville, and Maurice Bejart. Batista also participated as a Guest Principal Dancer with Cia Ballet de Rio de Janeiro and United Ballet Theatre.

Since joining Oklahoma City Ballet, Batista has performed lead and feature roles in Robert Mills’ Swan LakeThe NutcrackerThe Little Mermaid, and The Means To Fly as well as in Helen Pickett’s Petal, Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, Robert Joffrey’s Pas des Déesses, Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, and George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments.

Batista also serves as a guest ballet master, private mentor, and choreographer for dance conventions and competitions across the U.S. with his project “Master Classes on Tour.”