Veronica Ramirez Casanova was born in Cali, Colombia, where she began her dance training at the age of 10 at the Colombian Institute for Classical Ballet (INCOLBALLET,) under the artistic direction of Gloria Castro Martinez. In 2007, she graduated as a professional ballet dancer and launched her career with the Compañía Colombiana de Ballet (CCB), where she danced as a soloist for a decade.
Throughout her career, Veronica has performed a variety of principal roles, including Kitri’s friends in Don Quixote, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, one of the four swans in Swan Lake, Swanhilda in Coppelia, Variation 7 in Paquita, Carmina Burana, and many others. Her versatility extends to modern and contemporary works, collaborating with renowned choreographers like Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Jorge Amarante.
In addition, Veronica has toured internationally, performing in Mexico, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, and Honduras. She has also danced at international festivals in Cali and Bogotá (Colombia) as well as Tabasco and Campeche (Mexico), sharing the stage with internationally recognized dancers such as Viengsay Valdés.
In 2017, Veronica transitioned into a teaching role at the Compañía Colombiana de Danza Contemporánea, where she began mentoring the next generation of dancers. Her journey led her to Orlando, Florida, in 2018, where she joined Emotions Dance Company for two seasons.
Veronica became part of Ballet Pensacola in 2020, when she was promoted to principal dancer of the professional company, performing leading roles. She also participated in Pensacola Opera’s musical theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel. Since 2023, she has been an integral part of Ballet Pensacola’s artistic staff, serving as Assistant to the Artistic Director and Rehearsal Assistant for the Professional Company. Alongside her leadership responsibilities, Veronica is a dedicated teacher for advanced students at the Ballet Pensacola Academy School and manages the Pre-Professional program division.
Veronica complements her experience with certifications in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and Cuban Ballet School methodology. She also attended the CPYB teachers’ workshops at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet during the summers of 2023 and 2024.
Veronica is excited to continue growing with Ballet Pensacola and is looking forward to her fifth season as Assistant to the Artistic Director and Rehearsal Assistant under Stephano Candreva’s leadership.
“I feel an immense sense of joy and fulfillment when I work on a production. Witnessing the growth and progress of my students and dancers, seeing their hard work and dedication pay off, and being part of that creative process fills me with a sense of pride and accomplishment.” The performing arts have the power to transport and inspire, and I feel honored to be part of that transformative journey.
Place of Birth: Cali/Colombia
One word to describe why you do your art-form: “Constancy”
Favorite Color: Purple and Blue
Favorite production you have worked on: The Nutcracker
Dream Role in the future: Ballet Mistress and Regisseur
Favorite Choreographer: Anabelle Lopez Ochoa
Favorite Traditional Ballet: Don Quixote
Favorite Cuisine / Dish: Shrimp ceviche
Favorite hobby: Going to the beach
A Fun Fact about me: I have a puppy named Akanji who wakes up in the morning with a lot of energy and we call him T-Rex until him calms down.
What would you like your audience/community to gain from your performances/productions:
I would like them to be transported into a world of beauty, grace, and storytelling. Ballet has the unique ability to communicate emotions and stories through movements and music. I want our audience to feel inspired and connected to the performance, as if they are part of the narrative on stage. I aspire to have our performances instill a lasting appreciation for the art of ballet and its ability to touch the hearts and minds of people of all ages.
