After 12 Years and 30 in Dance, Veteran Soloist Marize Fumero Steps Down

Marize Fumero has spent 30 years in professional dance, a tenure that includes 12 specific years as a member of the Milwaukee Ballet company. She is retiring from the organization this month, marking the end of a long association with the local institution while she continues to perform independently.

Fumero will appear in her final performances with the company in a production of Mirror Mirror, a prequel to Snow White choreographed by Michael Pink. The show runs from Nov. 6 to Nov. 8 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. She selected this specific work for her farewell because she first originated the role of the evil stepmother, Claudia, nearly a decade ago. Fumero stated that she was eager to return to the character for her final curtain call.

The company is losing a senior artist who has been central to its artistic direction. Fumero credits Pink with transforming her technical ability into full theatrical storytelling. She explained that when she arrived in the United States in 2014, she possessed strong technique and facial expression but lacked the ability to project narrative to the audience. Working under Pink allowed her to develop those storytelling skills, a shift she describes as cultivating her artistry.

Fumero is known for playing complex, often antagonistic roles. Her repertoire includes the Queen of Hearts, Carmen, and a provocative nun. She acknowledges that she is typecast in these difficult parts. She noted that acting evil on stage comes naturally to her, whereas playing sweet characters like Sugar Plum requires more effort.

Her departure reflects the natural lifecycle of a professional dancer balancing career longevity with personal milestones. Fumero now has a 5-year-old son. She cited the need to pick up her child from school as a primary reason for stepping down from the company roster. She described herself as a sentimental person who wanted to be present for these family moments, which her previous schedule did not allow.

Fumero brought a specific discipline to the company that she attributes to her training in Cuba. She referred to the Cuban ballet education system as military ballet, where discipline is the core component. She used her veteran status to model work habits for younger dancers, emphasizing the importance of full repetitions and physical conditioning outside the studio. She told the next generation that they must destroy themselves physically today to achieve results tomorrow.

Although she is leaving the Milwaukee Ballet payroll, Fumero is not ending her career. She plans to dance on her own schedule, leveraging the body memory she has built over three decades of work. She described the physical aspect of dancing as easy for her at this stage, allowing her to explore performance opportunities at her own pace.

She remains connected to the company through the legacy of the works she helped perform. Fumero said all Michael Pink ballets are forever in her heart. Her final run with the company concludes in November, after which she will transition to independent engagements.

The company will continue operations without Fumero on its roster. Her final appearances in Mirror Mirror offer a chance to see her in the role that defined her tenure with the company. The production features an original cinematic score, specific set designs, and Pink's lyrical choreography. Fumero called the ballet perfect, noting that it contains all the elements of a strong stage production.