Alexander Younkins Vieira Castro

company apprentice

Alexander Younkins Vieira Castro (they/them) started dancing when they were ten years old at Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia Washington. While there, they also took private lessons with Xijun Fu which allowed them to successfully audition for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Professional Division in 2015 with the Craig Music and Entertainment Scholarship. 

While at the RWB, Alex learned Vaganova ballet technique, character dancing, and modern. They also were able to choreograph and submitted works to the RWB’s  “First Steps” show. They submitted three pieces over the years and won awards such as the Jacqueline Weber and Doreen Macdonald award. In 2019 Alex left the RWB and went to Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

Alex completed their Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts in Dance in 2024. They studied anatomy, choreography, teaching, contemporary, and dance somatics. While getting their degree, Alex danced with the Guild Dance Company under Alex Ung. They have guested with ARC dance and with the Seattle Opera. In 2020 Alex was hired to create a piece for the charity Gala “Dance to Make a Difference” and in 2024 choreographed in Cornish’s “New Moves” show. In 2023, Alex auditioned and received a contract with the Nashville Ballet II until 2024.

In their free time, Alex enjoys sewing and going to punk/metal concerts. They have received a 3rd place ribbon in their hometown’s county fair for a dress they submitted. Alex also enjoys embroidery and has started taking up cording. Neither of which they are particularly good at.

My advice to young dancers would be to never give up. Moving on from something is a normal part of growth, but don’t let obstacles be what holds you back from what you want. During my last year at the RWB, I was advised by the school’s director to give up pursuing dance. He said that dance would not be worth it for me as I would not be successful. That even if I was able to reach a professional level, I would be too old for it to mean anything. At that time in my life, he was right. I have no natural talent or aptitude for ballet. What was working for other people was just not clicking in my head. But I loved dance. I didn’t want to stop. So I spent the next couple years studying other dance techniques, anatomy, and studying dance somatics which allowed me to strengthen my weaknesses and get to where I am now. 

Since then, I have performed with four different dance companies. I have been hired professionally to dance with the Seattle Opera in a lead dance role. I have met so many incredible people that I never would’ve met otherwise. My path was wildly different than I originally imagined. My path has been wildly different from everyone I grew up training with. But it has been very fulfilling. Every goal has multiple routes. Find what works for you.