Every year, when the weather gets warmer and the days grow long, the company dancers of the Atlanta Ballet jet off to exotic locations, devote themselves to other hobbies and pastimes and spend time with friends and loved ones. Here at ArtsATL, we wanted to know more about how these talented dancers spend their summers, so we bring to you a new series called Summer Stories.

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A young Mikaela Santos. (Photo by Effie Nañas)

Mikaela Lauryn D. Santos has been a company member with the Atlanta Ballet for the past eight years. “It’s been an incredible journey of growth, both artistically and personally,” said Mikaela. While she didn’t initially imagine herself pursuing ballet as a career, it was the encouragement of one particularly influential teacher named Effie Nañas in Manila, Philippines, that inspired her to give it a shot. 

Mikaela recalled one defining moment when she participated in the World Ballet Competition and found herself sharing a stage alongside professional dancers. “Being on that stage, surrounded by such incredible talent and feeling completely at home, made me realize that this was more than just a hobby — it was something I truly wanted to pursue as a career,” she said. 

Today, Mikaela enjoys performing with the Atlanta Ballet and shared that one of her recent favorites was performing Swanilda in Coppélia. Describing the role as both technically precise and also full of charm, wit and playfulness, Mikaela found it to be an enjoyable challenge to embody the character. “Swanilda is a character with a strong personality — she’s clever and mischievous, which makes dancing the role not only physically engaging but also theatrically fulfilling.”

Over the summer, Mikaela focused on listening to her body and prioritizing her mental health. “It’s so important to take a break after a long season and shift into a routine that supports both recovery and maintenance,” she said. During the break, she addressed past injuries through physical therapy and prioritized strength-building exercises. “During the off-season, it’s important to listen to my body,” said Mikaela. 

In addition to setting aside some time off for rest and rejuvenation, she believes it must be partnered with continued training in order to maintain her physical fitness and endurance. “Staying active helps maintain strength, prevent injuries and prepare the body for a smooth return to rehearsals,” Mikaela continued. She turns to cross-training and Pilates classes to support her physical fitness over the summer break. 

(Photograph courtesy of Fit to Live Pilates)

(Photograph courtesy of Shoccara Marcus)

“I incorporated a lot of Pilates and strength training into my routine, which helped me maintain my physicality without the repetitive demands of ballet. Taking this time to reset — both physically and mentally — has prepared me to return to the studio feeling refreshed, focused and ready to give my best in the upcoming season,” Mikaela said. 

ArtsATL asked Mikaela if she had any advice for young aspiring dancers, and she said it’s important to find your own personal strength — whether that’s artistry, musicality, technique or even stage presence — and then use that strength to set yourself apart. “Never be afraid to push yourself out of your comfort zone,” she advised.

“Be confident in what you’re capable of and always stay open to learning. Ballet is full of challenges and progress often feels slow, but, if you learn to appreciate the daily work – the corrections, the small improvements and the repetition — that’s where true growth happens.” 

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A young Júlio Santos. (Photograph courtesy of Júlio Santos)

This is the first season at Atlanta Ballet for dancer Júlio Santos. Growing up in Brazil, Júlio saw his sister pursue both ballet and urban dance, and he recalls watching ballet performances with his family. That early exposure to the art form stuck with him, and he has found dance to be a joyful and fulfilling means of self-expression. 

Júlio shared that one of his favorite ballet performances is Don Quixote, though he is quick to admit that he has not performed that dance in its entirety before. Another that he finds particularly special is The Nutcracker, because “when I’m on stage, everything feels magical.”

While Júlio believes that rest is important, he says it’s crucial to get back into physical activity as soon as you feel rested enough to do so, and he ramps up the intensity leading up to the first day back in classes after the summer. His summer included gymnastics training, skateboarding, surfing, playing the piano and capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates elements of dance, acrobatics, music and spirituality. 

“It always helps me to get back to ballet when I’ve had different experiences,” said Júlio, noting that these different pursuits help him to expand his mind and enable him to return to dance fully refreshed and with a fresh perspective. 

Júlio’s advice for aspiring dancers is to find and hold onto the joy of dance throughout the grueling periods of training, practice and performances. “I would say be gentle with yourself,” he said, noting how physically demanding the art form is. “Don’t forget what is happening within yourself [and your] body.” 

Though learning the technicalities of the art form is important, he also believes that experimentation and pursuit of other types of self-expression help dancers have a more well-rounded experience. “Because even if you don’t notice, it’ll end up helping your dance, too, so have fun!”

(Photographs courtesy of Júlio Santos)