Biography

 

Evelyn Cisneros and Anthony Randazzo performing Swan Lake in 1992 at the San Francisco Ballet

Credit: @SanFranciscoBallet on Facebook

Evelyn Cisneros was born in Long Beach, California to two migrant workers originally from Mexico on November 18, 1959. She was raised in Huntington Beach, California but struggled as a child due to extreme shyness. To overcome her social struggles, Cisneros’ mother signed her up for ballet and she immediately fell in love with the art. Following lessons during her youth, Cisneros continued her training into high school and dedicated herself to the point that she took seven classes without breaks so that she could train for ballet. At fifteen years old, she was awarded for her hard work with an offer to attend the School of American Ballet in New York City for a summer intensive course. By sixteen years old she graduated high school prematurely and was given the opportunity to apprentice at the San Francisco Ballet, to which she accepted. Cisneros continued her apprenticeship at the San Francisco Ballet until she officially made her place in the corps de ballet in 1977 under the administration of two Co-Artistic Directors, Lew Christensen and Michael Smuin.