Sam Shapiro
Sam Shapiro hails from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He began his ballet training at Wake Forest University under the direction of his mother, Brantly Shapiro. At age 11, he entered the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied with the entire faculty including Duncan Noble, Nina Danilova and Gyula Pandi.
At age 17 he joined The Royal Ballet's Upper School, where he danced for three years, graduating with commendation. He spent two years in Boston Ballet II and then with North Carolina Dance Theatre performing classical and contemporary repertoire.
Favourite works include Dwight Rhoden's Broken Fantasies and Mark Godden's Dracula. Sam spent a year touring, performing with Tulsa Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet and Ballet Nacional de Panamá. This (2012) is Sam's first season with Royal New Zealand Ballet.
Read MoreAt age 17 he joined The Royal Ballet's Upper School, where he danced for three years, graduating with commendation. He spent two years in Boston Ballet II and then with North Carolina Dance Theatre performing classical and contemporary repertoire.
Favourite works include Dwight Rhoden's Broken Fantasies and Mark Godden's Dracula. Sam spent a year touring, performing with Tulsa Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet and Ballet Nacional de Panamá. This (2012) is Sam's first season with Royal New Zealand Ballet.