PATRICK SIMONELLO

Prior to joining The Joffrey, Simonello danced
with Los Angeles Classical Ballet and Tulsa (Ok.) Ballet Theatre, where he danced lead
roles in DON QUIXOTE and CINDERELLA. He has performed as a guest artist with Kingsport
Guild Ballet (near Knoxville, Tnn.) every year sinced 1994, dancing roles of The Prince in
CINDERELLA, Franz in COPELIA, and James in LES SYLPHIDES and also the University of
Georgia in LES SYLPHIDES, among others. He also guested in the Mobile (Ala.) Ballet
production of CINDERELLA in 1997 and in Ballet Pacifica’s THE NUTCRACKER as the
Cavalier. In 1995, he danced in the Equity Summer Stock production of Rogers and
Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA, touring Dallas, Atlanta, Kansas City and St. Louis, and in New
York City with Egal Perry and Chet Walker’s Fosse Workshop.

Simonello began his dance studies in jazz at the age of 12. He
started studying ballet at 16 only because, he says, “the studio where I was needed
boys for a production of GISELLE.” His first ballet studies were with Anthony Sellers
at the Orange County (Calif.) Dance Center. Simonello also studied at the Pace Dance
School in Huntington Beach, Calif., the Tremaine Dance Center of North Hollywood, Calif.,
and the Jimmie Defore Dance Center in Costa Mesa, Calif. Simonello has taught both jazz
and ballet.

Simonello’s family background is half Hispanic (Mexican/Spanish) and
half Italian. His mother, Katina Salcido, is a writer, painter, and sculptor. Simonello
states, “my first dance teacher and my mother always told me to dance from my
heart.”

Other Interests: Drawing, writing, roller blading,
cooking and singing

Born: Los Angeles, Calif.

Raised: Orange County, Calif.

Parents: Katina Salcido; Westminster, Calif.