Taylor Naturkas’ career at Miami City Ballet is on the rise, and her latest success comes on the wings of a legendary creature. After Natukas played the eponymous character in Balanchine/Robbins Firebird Last February, artistic director Lourdes Lopez promoted her to principal soloist. Two months later, Natukas made her film debut in Alexei Ratmansky’s film Odette/Odile. Swan Lake. This fall, she plans to dive deeper into Balanchine’s work a midsummer night’s dreamfollowing her spring guest appearance in this production with the New York City Ballet.
company: Miami City Ballet
age: twenty one
hometown: Petoskey, MI
train: Crooked Tree Center for the Arts Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School
Dance details: Naturkas joined the MCB Corps in 2020 after two years at company school, where she built her stage presence with a solid foundation. The clarity of detail in her interpretation—sharp toe movements, eloquent gestures, bold leaps and balances—created a smooth musicality. A technical foundation can achieve great results in engaging your audience. While Naturkas, a student at MCB School, was rehearsing, Lopez noticed Don Quixote. “She performed the pas de deux, variations and coda, including the flower dance, with ease,” the director said. “Then she went to the back and started working on her left leg to further strengthen her calf – a clear indication of her talent and work ethic.” When Natukas was a prep student at the school, she She played the role of Dewdrop in her first MCB nutcrackera prelude to her corporate contract.
Lessons in Art and Life: “Everyone was nervous,” Natukas recalled of the initial spotlight role. “But I told myself ‘Just do it.'” She still relies on that mentality and determined preparation — skills that 2010 Dance Teacher Award winner Heather Raue developed at Crooked Tree. “She taught me mental strength and how to control myself,” Natukas said, “and I carried those qualities beyond ballet into my personal life.” She Firebird Laue was applauded by the audience for the achievement.
Sisters and friends: In the summer resort town on Lake Michigan, Taylor and her twin brother, Autumn, began dancing classes together but soon began pursuing separate activities—a self-determination encouraged by their parents. “Autumn and I love trying different things. She is passionate about horses and now works at our dad’s restaurant. But we are still best friends and give each other advice. We always have a lot to catch up on!
Broad perspective: Each assignment Natukas takes on enhances the beauty of her art form. “exist Swan Lake I took everything out of such a huge process,” she said, grateful for the opportunity to develop her performance. Working with Ratmansky made her eager to perform in his works Photos from the exhibition next year. But she added: “Everything was new to me. I wanted to be a slow dancer, a fast dancer – I wanted it all.
