Ballet veteran exits after 12 years to manage school pickup

Marize Fumero will leave the Milwaukee Ballet after 12 years to align her work schedule with her family duties. The dancer plans to pick up her 5-year-old son from school, a task she has not been able to perform while maintaining her full-time company obligations.

Fumero made her professional debut with the company in 2014. Before moving to the United States, she trained in Cuba and danced with the English National Ballet. She is retiring from the company roster but will continue to dance.

For her final performances, Fumero selected Michael Pink’s ballet Mirror Mirror. The company will stage the show at the Marcus Performing Arts Center from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8. Fumero first portrayed the character Claudia, the evil stepmother, nearly a decade ago. She cited a desire to return to the role as the primary reason for choosing this specific production for her farewell.

Fumero described the process of choosing a farewell show as difficult. She stated that she found it challenging to select the perfect performance to end her career with the company. She described the production as comprehensive, noting it features a cinematic original score, detailed sets and costumes, and lyrical choreography by Pink.

The dancer acknowledged that she frequently performs complex or antagonistic characters. She listed the Queen of Hearts, Carmen, and a provocative nun as roles she has danced. Fumero said it is easier for her to portray evil than to portray innocence, noting that she must act more when playing a sweet character like Sugar Plum.

Fumero credited her time with Michael Pink for developing her storytelling abilities. She said she arrived with technique and facial expression but did not know how to convey a narrative to the audience. She attributed this growth to her years working with Pink. She also mentioned her training in Cuba, where she described the education as military ballet, emphasizing discipline and physical repetition.

Fumero said she has remained with the company for 12 years to work with Pink and to serve as an example for younger dancers. She told the company that it is important to repeat every movement and never mark steps. She stated that physical intensity in practice is necessary to achieve results on stage. After 30 years of work, she said her body now knows what to do, allowing her to explore dance on her own schedule.