Elaina da Fonte grew up in Roxbury, Connecticut, and began dancing at the age of three. After her early training under Kerry Gallagher and Elizabeth Parkinson at Fineline Theater Arts, Elaina moved to North Carolina to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts high school program under the direction of Susan Jaffe.

After graduating, Elaina continued her ballet education at Indiana University Ballet Theater, where she trained with Sarah Wroth, Sasha Janes, Kyra Nichols, Michael Vernon, Christian Claessens, and Carla Korbes. During her time at IU, Elaina performed principal roles in Sasha Janes’s Chaconne, Dwight Rhoden’s Ballad Unto, Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture, and Bournonville’s Kermesse Pas de Deux. She also performed works by George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, Antony Tudor, and many other legendary choreographers.

Elaina then joined Charlotte Ballet II under the direction of Alejandro Cerrudo. While there, she performed in Andrea Schermoly’s world premiere of Carmen, in Alejandro Cerrudo’s world premiere of Wings, as a cygnet in Ib Andersen’s Swan Lake, and in the “Embraceable You” pas de deux from Balanchine’s Who Cares? coached by Patricia McBride.

Elaina is thrilled to return to Indiana for her first season with Indianapolis Ballet!

Headshot: Isaac Aoki

Action shot: Maximillian Tortoriello