Cardim began her celebrated career as a dancer at Ballet of Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro in 1994, becoming a soloist in 1995 and performing lead roles in ballets such as Giselle, L’après-midi d’un Faune (Nijinsky) and Suite en Blanc (Lifar). She then joined the Dutch National Ballet in 1999, rising to distinction in the company, and subsequently performing a vast repertoire including key roles in Choreatium (Massine), Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet. Her professional dance training includes the Studio Eliana Karin in Rio de Janeiro, the Académie De Danse Classique Princesse Grace in Monaco, and contemporary dance training at Ballet Cristina Helena in Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
While still a student, Cardim began choreographing and soon proved herself to be an exceptional talent and visionary. Her first works for the Dutch National Ballet, including 3 Movements for Cello & Piano (2006), Zaahir (2007), In Space (2008) and Two Octaves Below Middle C (2009), garnered her swift recognition in the dance world. She was also one of six choreographers selected to attend the prestigious New York Choreographic Institute in 2008, where she worked with composer Jude Vaclavik. By 2015, Dance Europe Magazine lauded Cardim as a “New Name to Watch.” Her recent works, such as Reset, Stabat Mater and Baroque Encounters, have now made Cardim a celebrated name.
Over the course of her career, Cardim has choreographed works for a myriad of internationally recognized ballet companies, including Ballet of Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo Dance Company (Brazil), Dutch National Ballet Junior Company – Junior and Main Companies (Netherlands), West Australian Ballet, Poznan Opera Ballet (Poland), Birmingham Royal Ballet, New English Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet School and Elmhurst Ballet School (United Kingdom). Ballet Arizona is thrilled to bring this caliber of talent to its stages.
Additionally, Cardim has worked as a ballet teacher and mentor for student dancers, including mentoring young choreographers at The Royal Ballet School and creating works for their Summer Intensive programs. She also taught students at Studio Eliana Karin and open classes at Central School of Ballet and English National Ballet. Cardim served as a guest ballet teacher at Studio Wayne McGregor, Rambert Dance Company, Akram Khan Company and Swedish Ballet School in Gothenburg.
After retiring as a dancer in 2010, Cardim completed an honors bachelor’s in arts management at London South Bank University graduating with a first-class degree. Since 2013, Cardim has served in a variety of leadership roles at the New English Ballet Theatre in London starting as a project manager, followed by a promotion to company and general manager in 2014, and to assistant director in 2022.
