Chalnessa Eames
| Chalnessa Eames | |
|---|---|
| Born |
1978 (age 37–38) Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Ballet dancer |
| Current group | Whim W'Him |
| Former groups |
Royal Winnipeg Ballet (1998-2001) Pacific Northwest Ballet (2001-2011) |
Chalnessa Eames (born 1978)[1] is a ballet dancer who performed with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet.[2]
Early life and education
Eames was born in Los Angeles, California.[3] She is one of five children born to Rebecca (Becky) and David Eames.[4] From the age of three, she grew up in Bellingham, Washington,[3] where she studied ballet at the Nancy Whyte School of Ballet and the Morca Academy of Performing Arts.[1] She then moved to Eugene (Oregon) to work with Kathleen Smith Epstein, who taught using the Vaganova syllabus. Classes were very strict and for a year it was just her in class! She worked with her for two years, from ages 12–14, and then felt she needed to move on for high school.[5]
She auditioned for Harid Conservatory [Boca Raton, Florida] (auditions were held at PNB) and received a two-year scholarship. She attended summer programs at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School and the School of Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and completed her final year of training at Winnipeg.[2][3]
Career
In 1996, at the age of 18, she joined Royal Winnipeg Ballet,[2] as an apprentice and was promoted to the corps de ballet the following year.[1] She joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2001, where she was promoted to soloist in 2007.[2] Eames left the Pacific Northwest Ballet in June 2011.[6][7] She currently performs with Olivier Wevers' Whim W'Him dance company.[8][9]
Leading roles
Eames has danced leading roles which include:[2]
- George Balanchine's Agon, Coppélia, Emeralds, The Four Temperaments, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Butterfly), Rubies, Serenade, and Symphony in C
- Todd Bolender's Souvenirs
- Ulysses Dove's Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven, Serious Pleasures, and Vespers
- Nacho Duato's Jardí Tancat and Rassemblement
- William Forsythe's Artifact II and One Flat Thing, reproduced
- Ronald Hynd's The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird pas de deux, Gold and Silver pas de trois)
- Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort
- José Limón's The Moor's Pavane
- Jean-Christophe Maillot's Roméo et Juliette (Nurse)
- Jerome Robbins' Dances at a Gathering and Fancy Free
- Kent Stowell's Cinderella (Stepsister), Delicate Balance, Nutcracker (Clara, Flora), Quaternary, and Silver Lining
- Twyla Tharp's Afternoon Ball, In the Upper Room, and Nine Sinatra Songs
- Christopher Wheeldon's Variations Sérieuses
She also originated the leading roles in:[2]
- Benjamin Millepied's 3 Movements
- Susan Stroman's TAKE FIVE ... More or Less
- Twyla Tharp's Opus 111
- Olivier Wevers' Shindig
Other work
Eames danced in Guy Maddin's 2002 film Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary.[2][10]
Personal life
Eames is married to Ash Modha,[1][11] the CEO and co-founder of the Mondetta Clothing Company.[12]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Loisel, Brooke (2010). "Act II: Life After Ballet". Klipsun magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Chalnessa Eames". Pacific Northwest Ballet. Archived from the original on August 24, 2010. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- 1 2 3 Speer, Dean; Timlin, Francis (March 2008). "Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Chalnessa Eames". Ballet-Dance Magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Obituary: David Alan Eames". Skagit Valley Herald. legacy.com. November 19, 2009. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ Speer, Dean; Timlin, Francis (March 2008). "Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist Chalnessa Eames". Ballet-Dance Magazine. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
- ↑ Sillman, Marcie (June 16, 2011). "Pacific Northwest Ballet's Encore, or Why I Will Miss Chalnessa Eames". SeattlePI.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ Gaynor, Rosie (April 6, 2011). "PNB's Encore Celebrates Eight Departing Dancers". SeattleDances. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Chalnessa Eames". Whim W'Him. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ van Baker, Michael (January 22, 2012). "From Whim W'Him, Sex Kittens and Sex Kills". The SunBreak. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ "Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary (2002)". IMDb.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ Fuhrer, Margaret (February–March 2010). "Inside Chalnessa Eames' Dance Bag image". Pointe Magazine. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
- ↑ Woolman, Avi (April 21, 2011). "Exclusive Interview With MPG Sport Founder". ActivewearUSA.com. Retrieved February 3, 2012.