Dave Naquin is a native of Cowpens, South Carolina. He began his training with Ballet Spartanburg under the direction of Carlos Agudelo, Lona Gomez, and Cynthia Bernshausen. Dave joined the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (2008–2011). He started his professional career with the Grand Rapids Ballet (2011–2016). Under the direction of Patricia Barker, Dave has performed principal roles such as Mario Radacovsky’s Black and White, Romeo and Juliet, Wes Chapman’s Dracula, Arabian in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Rubies, Who Cares?, and Bruce Wells’ Cinderella. Dave then joined Oklahoma City Ballet in 2016. Under the direction of Robert Mills, Dave performed in Septime Webre’s Alice in Wonderland, Robert Mills’ Our Private Rooms, George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo. He moved to Los Angeles in 2020 to join Los Angeles Ballet where he had the opportunity to perform Christopher Wheeldon’s Ghosts. Dave is happy to be in Eugene and is looking forward to his first season with Eugene Ballet.
