"Working hard on my path and dream of becoming an elite level professional ballet dancer."
"Working hard on my path and dream of becoming an elite level professional ballet dancer."
"Working hard on my path and dream of becoming an elite level professional ballet dancer."
"Working hard on my path and dream of becoming an elite level professional ballet dancer."
Sebastian Bondar and Isabella Keesee, Pas d’Esclave Pas De Deux, YAGP, 2024
I am an 18 year old male ballet dancer born and raised in the beautiful seaside town of Jupiter in South Florida, just north of Palm Beach, and I have been dancing since age 12. In March of 2024, I accepted my first professional role in my ballet career - I joined Boston Ballet II mid-season and am excited to perform in the upcoming Spring season performances with the Boston Ballet Company. I am also exploring other interesting acting and dancing opportunities. This is a thrilling time and I am grateful to have an amazing team around me to help navigate these uncharted waters.
Prior to that, I trained and competed under the guidance of Catherine Lewellen and her coaches at Elite Classical Coaching whose expertise and mentoring were invaluable in transitioning from an amateur to professional dancer. In November 2023, I won 1st place at the semifinals in Austin, TX of the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), a major ballet competition for the best dancers from all over the world, and look forward to competing in the finals at Lincoln Center in April 2024 in New York City. In January 2024, I competed in the Prix de Lausanne (a prestigious international ballet competition) in Switzerland - one of 88 dancers from around the world selected to compete - (44 girls and 44 boys) and one of only 7 boys from the United States.
In 2021, I was awarded and accepted a full scholarship to train with Houston Ballet Academy. There I had the opportunity to perform with Houston Ballet Company in different corps de ballet roles in Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker, directed by Stanton Welsh. I also performed in various roles with the Academy in Bruiser, Coppelia, Swan Lake and Paquita.
Prior to that, I attended Bak Middle School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, FL as a Dance major and was accepted to the Dreyfoos School of the Arts dance program for (magnet high school in West Palm Beach, FL), but decided to concentrate full time on ballet and complete my high school with virtual online education - I joined Paris Ballet Conservatory in Jupiter, FL under the direction of Jean-Hugues Feray. I have performed in soloist and partnering roles in many Paris Ballet and Dance performances, including "The Nutcracker" (as Cavalier [in 2019 alongside my talented younger brother, Nicholas Bondar, who performed the role of the Prince], Prince, and Mechanical Soldier), "Sleeping Beauty" (as Prince Desire and Prince Charmant) and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (as Bottom). My other stage credits include "The Best of Broadway Revue" and "Music Man" (as Tommy) at the Maltz Theatre, Jupiter, FL, "Le Corsaire" (as Ali) with Paris Ballet and "Don Quixote" (as Matador) with Le Jeune Dance and Paris Ballet.
My training also includes numerous ballet intensives, including:
- YAGP Nervi Festival, Genova, Italy - 2023
- Houston Ballet Academy Summer Intensive - 2021 and 2022
- Magnifique Winter Intensive, West Palm Beach, Fl - 2018, 2019 and 2020
- International Summer School, Volta Mantovana, Italy - 2019
- Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive, New York City - 2019
- Stage International de Danse, Arcachon, France - 2018 and 2019
I was a scholarship recipient of many prestigious programs, including American Ballet Theatre (ABT) JKO School, Ballettschule Theater Basel (BTB), Ballet West, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Colorado Ballet Academy, Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Ballet, John Cranko School of the Stuttgart Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Also, I have had the privilege to train under many amazing teachers who were stars of Paris Opera Ballet (Charles Jude, Elisabeth Platel, Cyril Atanassoff and Nicolas Le Riche).
Thank you so much to my many dance instructors, including Mr. Jean-Hugues Feray, Mr. Olivier Pardina, Mr. Claudio Munoz, Mr. Orlando Molina, and Mrs. Catherine Livengood Lewellen, for helping me to realize my dream. I am grateful to have found something I love and am thrilled to be executing on my passion and dream of becoming an elite level professional male ballet dancer. I am so excited for all that my future holds and fully prepared to do what it takes to get there!!
AWARDS / RECOGNITION
2024 Prix de Lausanne Senior Male Candidate
2024 YAGP Chicago Semi Final: 1st Place, Pas de Deux (with Isabella Keesee)
2023 YAGP Austin Semi Final: 1st Place Senior Classical Soloist, 2nd Place Senior Contemporary Soloist
2021 YAGP Finals, Final Round Competitor: Senior Men’s Soloist (one of 23 dancers)
2021/2020 YAGP Semi Final: 1st Place Senior Men’s Classical Soloist
2019 YAGP Semi Final: 2nd Place Junior Men’s Classical Soloist
Sebastian Bondar - Ballet Dancer
Sebastian Bondar - 2023
Copyright © 2024 Sebastian Bondar - All Rights Reserved.
Photography by Rhi Lee, Joseph J. Bucheck III