Elizabeth Barreto

About:

Elizabeth was born in La Grande, Oregon.  She began dancing at a young age under the instruction of her mother, Swannee Herrmann, at La Grande School of Ballet.   Her training continued with Lawrence and Sarma Rosenberg at the Anaheim Ballet School, supplemented by private coaching with Nancy Raffa, Stanley Holden, Alexander Greschenko, Jillana, and Wilhelm Burmann.

At the beginning of her professional career, Elizabeth was a member of the Anaheim Ballet company while also teaching at Anaheim Ballet School.  In 2011, she joined Ballet Idaho and was promoted to Principal dancer in 2016.

Recent notable roles include Cinderella in Edwaard Liang’s Cinderella, Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Wendy in Peter Pan, Odette in Swan Lake, and principal roles in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Agon, Allegro Brillante, Valse Fantasie, and Concerto Barocco.  Elizabeth originated numerous roles choreographed by Peter Anastos and has performed works by Twyla Tharp, Craig Davidson, Penny Saunders, Ricardo Amarante, Dana Genshaft, Danielle Rowe, Anne Mueller, Daniel Ojeda, and Alex Ossadnik.

She is also a dance apparel designer and owner of Barreto Dancewear. Her designs are worn by professional dancers worldwide.  Elizabeth became a mother in the summer of 2021 and enjoys raising her daughter while pursuing both careers. 

This is Elizabeth’s twelfth season with Ballet Idaho.

Generously sponsored for the 2022.23 season by Hal & Jacque Eastman.