Antonio Carmena was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. He began his dance
training at age seven with the Royal Conservatory of Professional Dance in Madrid.
While at the Conservatory, he studied with Virginia Valero and Antonio Almenara. In
addition, he studied with Maria de Avila, Aurora Bosch, Ricardo Franco, Lazaro Carreno
and Stanley Williams. After winning a Prix de Lausanne Scholarship, he came to New
York City in 1997 to study at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of
New York City Ballet. He was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet
in October 1998 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in October
1999. In March of 2006 he was promoted to soloist.
Since joining New York City Ballet, Mr. Carmena has danced featured roles in
Balanchine's Chaconne, The Nutcracker (Soldier & Chinese Tea), Jewels (Emeralds), A
Midsummer Night's Dream (Oberon), Prodigal Son, La Sonnambula, Symphony in C (3rd
Movement), La Valse, and Vienna Waltzes. He has danced in the following Jerome
Robbins ballets: Dances at the Gathering (Brick), The Four Seasons (Winter & Fall),
Interplay and Piano Pieces (Le Petit Cavalier). He was seen in Peter Martins The
Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird), Swan Lake (Benno), Eight More and Fearful Symmetries.
He danced in David Allen's Reunions, August Bournonville's Flower Festival in
Genzano Pas De Deux and Eliot Feld's The Unanswered Question. Mr. Carmena has
originated a feature roles in Alexei Ratmansky's Russian Seasons.
Mr. Carmena is the recipient of numerous awards. In 1996, he was awarded the Gold
Medal at the Third International Competition in Havana, Cuba. In 1997, he received top
honors at the Prix de Lausanne, as well as at the "Prix des Telespectateurs," which
was voted on by the television viewers of the Prix de Lausanne. He was awarded
Grand Prix in the Seventh Eurovision Competition for Young Dancers, and in 1997, Mr.
Carmena was named the "Most Outstanding Young Dancer" in the First International
Dance Competition in Zaragoza, Spain.
