A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
7:15 a.m.
Gonzalez—who grew up in Pacific Beach and La Jolla but lives in Normal Heights with her husband, their two dogs, and one cat—starts her days with a protein shake. “We [ballerinas] have to watch what we eat because of what we wear, but you can’t do what we do and not eat properly.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
7:23 a.m.
Post-protein, she heads to the backyard to take care of her pups: Phoebe, a West Highland white terrier, and Penelope, a black Labrador. “They love cheese and carrots.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
8:30 a.m.
Before ballet, Gonzalez clocks in private Pilates classes four times a week at the home of friend and former City Ballet dancer Angela Leone. “Gyms suck. I do yoga sometimes but Pilates works for me.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
8:32 a.m.
Leone’s Great Dane, Larry, visits their sessions on occasion. “I’m such an animal lover. It’s nice to hug a pup after a particularly difficult exercise. He’ll come in and lie down, with a few good licks thrown in!”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
9:18 a.m.
The company meets five days a week, starting with a 1.5-hour warm-up and almost five hours of show rehearsal. That’s on top of the second gig most of the dancers keep. “Ballet isn’t very profitable. Basically everyone has a second job. A lot of the girls work in restaurants.” Gonzalez teaches private lessons two mornings a week, plus all day on Sundays.
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
10:07 a.m.
Gonzalez takes time out to stretch during warm-up class. “It keeps our technique strong, while getting our muscles ready for the day. It’s so mentally therapeutic for me, especially barre work.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
10:37 a.m.
Gonzalez nails a changement during class, despite a sore calf (hence the sole leg warmer). “I have one and a half dressers devoted to dance attire. Two drawers are filled with leotards, one for all bottoms, and the rest for warm-up clothes.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
11:38 a.m.
Before lacing up in pointe shoes, Gonzalez tapes her toes to prevent blisters—but not just any tape; hers are printed with photos of s’mores. “One of us has tape with gummy bears on it.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
11:42 a.m.
“We go through so many shoes that we name them,” she says. Today she’s wearing her “Kate Hudson” pair. “I also have Angelina Jolie and Celine Dion. I had Oprah for a while. She’s retired now.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
12:10 p.m.
Gonzalez rehearses a sequence with Adam Bloodgood for ballet mistress Emily Kirn and Gonzalez’s mother, choreographer Elizabeth Rose-Wistrich (far left), who founded City Ballet in 1993 with Gonzalez’s father, artistic director Steven Wistrich. “My mom and I work surprisingly well together. But when I was a teen, I was sassier and would get testy when she corrected me!”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
12:23 p.m.
“I’m exhausted. We do the repertoire any major company would do, and [George] Balanchine ballets are so demanding. We’ve been rehearsing these since October. These ballets are basically ready to go.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
12:49 p.m.
“There’s something so glamorous and feminine about wearing a tutu,” says Gonzalez, who dons the iconic skirt for Emeralds, one of three Balanchine pieces that
make up the Masterworks show. “It never gets old.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
12:54 p.m.
Understudy Karin Yamada mirrors Gonzalez’s moves. “She has to know all of the choreography and be ready to go in at a moment’s notice if I were sick or injured or if something happened during a performance.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
1:18 p.m.
Gonzalez rehearses with Stéphano Candreva, who’ll play Romeo to her Juliet in the famous romantic piece this month at Spreckels Theatre. “It’s funny because he’s actually my best friend’s boyfriend.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
2:02 p.m.
Post-rehearsal, Gonzalez breaks for phone calls and snacks. In her packed bag? Boiled eggs, string cheese, fruit, and nuts. “It’s not the stereotypical ‘ballerinas starving themselves.’ It’s about health.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
2:51 p.m.
Rehearsal is over! Gonzalez and City Ballet dancer Megan Jacobs head to Tower23. “It’s one of our go-to spots. If we get out early and have coinciding times off, [the dancers] will go out for a meal or drinks.” On tap today? A hummus appetizer and rosé. “I’d get a fried chicken sandwich if I didn’t have to wear a leotard next week!”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
4:52 p.m.
At the end of the day, Gonzalez catches up with her husband, Geoff, a City Ballet dancer turned choreographer whom she wed in a 2014 Fallbrook ceremony. It’s also time to multitask. “I usually do an ice bath for my feet every night. And I have tendonitis.”
A Day in the Life of Ballerina Ariana Gonzalez
6:38 p.m.
The couple heats up leftovers for dinner. “We’re homebodies, but we’re also foodies. We love Bo-Beau in OB and Puesto. And I love brunch. After a show, I do brunch and mimosas. Ballerinas like to party. We are some of the biggest wine drinkers I know.”
Watch It!
Romeo & Juliet
May 6–8, Spreckels Theatre, cityballet.org
