Taylor Naturkas receives promotion to Principal Soloist with Miami City Ballet

Taylor Naturkas, from Petoskey, Michigan, was promoted to Principal Soloist with the Miami City Ballet following her debut performance as Firebird with the company on February 10, 2024.

Naturkas began her dance journey at the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet when she was just four years old. At the age of 15, she began studying at Miami City Ballet School year-round. Naturkas has quickly moved up the ranks of the company, receiving her Corps de Ballet contract in 2020, and was promoted to Soloist two years later in 2022. Now at 21, Naturkas is the youngest Principal Soloist with the company, and also one of Miami City Ballet’s youngest company dancers.

Since joining the company, Naturkas has performed Principal roles including Divertimento No. 15, Dewdrop and Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Rubies in George Balanchine’s Jewels and the Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade.

For the past 21 years, CTAC School of Ballet has been training young people in Northern Michigan for careers as professional dancers and artists. The professional programs where students are accepted exemplify the success of the School of Ballet. During her time at CTAC, Naturkas attended many pre-professional summer intensive programs including; Suzanne Farrell’s Cedar Island Program, Chautauqua Institution, Charlotte Ballet, and Miami City Ballet. 

“Taylor has always been a truly gifted dancer and her unflagging, passionate devotion to her craft has gotten her to where she is today. We couldn’t be more proud of and excited for Taylor!” said Artistic Director and Founder of CTAC School of Ballet, Heather Raue.

Naturkas will be performing in New York City this spring as a guest artist for New York City Ballet’s 75th anniversary celebration. She was one of just a few professional dancers in the country to be chosen for the anniversary performances. She will perform a Divertissement from Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream the last weekend in May.

Image 1 (Credit: Miami City Ballet) 


Image 2 (Credit: Miami City Ballet) 


Image 3 (Credit: Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet) 


Image 4 (Credit: Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet)