Jessica Collado, Soloist

Birthplace
Coral Springs, Florida

Dance Training
Gwinnett Ballet Theater
Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy
Ballet Nova of South Florida

Joined the Company
2004

Promoted to Demi Soloist
2009

Promoted to Soloist
2011

Favorite Ballet
Ghost Dances

One defining moment…
When I received the Michael Wasmund Memorial Award upon spring graduation with Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy.

Jessica Collado was born in Coral Springs, Florida and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She trained with the Gwinnett Ballet Theater under the direction of Lisa Sheppard Robson. During her summers, Ms. Collado attended programs at South Carolina University and Boston Ballet. Between 2001-2003, Ms. Collado attended Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy Summer Intensives as well as a year with Houston Ballet II on full scholarship. Upon her graduation from the academy in the spring of 2004, she received the Michael Wasmund Memorial Award. Ms. Collado joined Houston Ballet as an apprentice in July 2004 and was promoted to a corps de ballet member in July 2005. During the 2004-2005 season, Ms. Collado performed many roles with Houston Ballet, including the rooster girl in Christopher Bruce's Rooster, and the red girl in Stanton Welch's Maninyas. She also performed the roles of Suzuki in Stanton Welch's Madame Butterfly, the lead purple girl in Stanton Welch's Red Earth and Summer in Stanton Welch's Four Season's. Ms. Collado was featured in Forgotten Land, Svadebka, and Petit Mort by Jiri Kylian, as well as Hush and Sergeant Early's Dreams by Christopher Bruce. She performed in Hans Van Manen's Five Tangos, William Forsyth's In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, and Brian Enos's Dark and Lovely Mmm... Most recently, Ms. Collado performed the role of Effie in La Sylphide. Ms. Collado was promoted to demi soloist in March 2009.

Headshot by Amitava Sarkar.