When French ballerina Mireille Favarel began dancing professionally at the age of 17, she had no idea that she would perform with some of the best ballet companies in Europe. Or that she’d move to Wisconsin in 1989 to become a principal dancer with the Milwaukee Ballet. She spent the next 35 years at the company moving up the ranks until becoming the second company’s artistic director, working with hundreds of young dancers from over 20 states and five countries.
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“It’s been an amazing journey,” Favarel says. She remains pleasantly surprised by the warm reception she received in the city, and by the strength of its cultural institutions. “Milwaukeeans love going to the theater and appreciate what they see.”
And now, as the ballet’s season draws to a close, Favarel is getting ready for her next big move – retirement.
Favarel will miss working one-on-one with students. But she’s looking forward to stepping away from the spotlight and attending performances as an audience member – especially because she’ll still get to see many of the students she’s coached over the years as they hone their craft and entertain new generations of ballet fans.
“My heart is full,” she says. “I feel grateful and proud.”
See Milwaukee Ballet’s Second Company showcase “Momentum,” March 1-2 and April 26 at Baumgartner Center for Dance.
