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Principals

Esteban Hernandez

Esteban Hernandez

Biography

  • Born

    Guadalajara, Mexico

  • Training

    The Rock School for Dance Education
    The Royal Ballet School
    American Ballet Theatre (summer program)
    Vaganova Academy (summer program)

  • San Francisco Ballet

    Joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in 2013
    Promoted to soloist in 2017
    Promoted to principal dancer in 2019

Tomasson

Bartók Divertimento 

Caprice (originated)

Concerto Grosso 

Don Quixote (Gitano Leader)

The Fifth Season 

Giselle (Peasant pas de cinq) 

Nutcracker (Dancing Nutcracker, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian)

On a Theme of Paganini 

Romeo & Juliet (Mercutio)

The Sleeping Beauty (Pas de Six/Cavaliers and Bluebird)

Swan Lake (Act I pas de trois, Neapolitan, and Peasants)

Trio 

 

Balanchine

Diamonds 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Puck and Oberon)

Prodigal Son (Son)

Rubies

Stravinsky Violin Concerto

Theme and Variations

Tarantella (Pas de deux)

 

Bournonville

From Siberia to Moscow (Jockey Dance)

 

Caniparoli

Lambarena

 

Cranko

Onegin

 

Kobborg

Les Lutins

 

Lander

Etudes (excerpt) (tour)

 

Lifar 

Suite en Blanc (Pas de cinq)

 

van Manen

Solo

 

McIntyre

Your Flesh Shall Be a Great Poem (originated)

The Big Hunger (originated; Principal)

 

Morris

Sandpaper Ballet (Trumpeter)

 

Neumeier

The Little Mermaid (Naval Officer)

 

Peck

Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes (3 soloist men)

 

Possokhov

Firebird

Fusion

Magrittomania

Optimistic Tragedy (Two Sailors)

The Rite of Spring

“… two united in a single soul…” (Narcissus)

 

Ratmansky

From Foreign Lands (Italian, Spanish, and Hungarian)

Symphony #9 and Chamber Symphony in Shostakovich Trilogy

 

Rhoden

LET’S BEGIN AT THE END (originated)

 

Robbins

Fancy Free (Sailor)

Glass Pieces

 

Scarlett

Die Toteninsel (originated)

Fearful Symmetries (originated)

Frankenstein (Henry Clerval)

Hummingbird

 

Thatcher 

Ghost in the Machine (originated)

 

Welch

Bespoke (originated)

 

Wheeldon

Bound To 

Cinderella (Benjamin, Autumn, and Courtiers)

Continuum

 
  • Received the Latino Spirit Award from the California Latino Legislative Caucus for achievements in the performing arts, Sacramento, California, May 2016.
  • Named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Mexico. 
  • Received the Jerome Robbins Foundation Award and gold medals at Youth America Grand Prix.
  • Performed at Gala Despertares in Mexico City in August 2018, produced by Soul Arts Productions, owned by Esteban and his brother, Isaac Hernandez.
  • Danced Tomasson’s Concerto Grosso at Fall for Dance at New York City Center in October 2017.
  • Performed at the Expresiones Gala in Guadalahara, Mexico, in November 2017.
  • Performed at Gala Despertares in Guadalahara, Mexico, in July 2016, produced by Soul Arts Productions, owned by Esteban and his brother, Isaac Hernandez.

Q&A

What has been your proudest moment as a dancer? Why?

My brother Isaac and I organized a gala back in my hometown of Guadalajara—sharing the stage with my brother and my friends there was the most amazing feeling.

If I weren't a dancer I'd be...

A concert pianist. Playing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 is a dream of mine.

I love San Francisco because…

There is a great variety and mix of different cultures, and there’s something for everybody.