DAVID ALVAREZ
Hi, my name is David Alvarez. I was born in Montreal, Canada on May 11, 1994. My parents are from Cuba. I now live in New York City with my parents and my younger sister. I also have a big sister, who is studying in Canada. I began dancing when I was eight years old in a small school in Montreal. I started taking dancing more seriously when I was nine, and my family and I moved to San Diego, California, where my father was relocated. Two years later I was offered a full merit scholarship to continue my classical ballet training at the American Ballet Theater’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. I have been training at ABT for two years now. In classical ballet, I’m proudest of dancing with ABT the role of the Garland Boy in The Sleeping Beauty (Metropolitan Opera House, NYC, June 2007), the role of The Nutcracker’s Fritz (Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington DC, December 2007), as well as a male variation of The Flower Festival of Genzano at the ABT’s JKO School Spring Performance (The Ailey Citigroup Theater, NYC, March 2008).
I also play the piano and have been training at the 92nd Street Y School of Music in classical piano for two years. Last year, I was awarded the Racanati-Kaplan merit full scholarship to continue my training in piano at this school. It was also at this school where I had my debut as a singer, when I sang “Where is Love” from Oliver! for Victoria Clark.
As part of my preparation for the role of Billy Elliot, I started learning tap, acrobatics, singing, acting as well as talking as a northeastern English boy. The funny thing about this is that I never in my life took tap, acrobatics, singing or acting classes. I have had to take all for Billy Elliot!
My special thanks to my parents and my two sisters who’ve supported me throughout this wonderful and unique experience.