Karina González moves through a room with the ease of someone who knows exactly where she belongs. After more than a decade as a principal dancer with Houston Ballet, the Venezuelan-born artist has become one of the company’s most recognizable performers. Her journey began in Caracas, where she trained at the Gustavo Franklin Ballet School before joining the Ballet Nacional de Caracas and later Tulsa Ballet, becoming a principal dancer in 2007. She joined Houston Ballet in 2010 and rose to principal in 2013 following her performance as Nikiya in Stanton Welch’s La Bayadere. Her career includes a silver medal at the New York International Ballet Competition and performances across international stages.
This year, poised to be an epic year even by her standards, she is practicing something new: being present.
The dancer admits being still has never come naturally. For years, she filled every moment with work, training, and the pursuit of her next goal. In 2025, she earned her Business Administration degree, launched her nonprofit, performed dream roles, and continued her schedule as a principal dancer, all while raising two young daughters. Somewhere in the middle of all that, she realized she needed to shift her perspective.
“Last year brought so many beautiful milestones into my personal and professional life,” González said. She added that time with her family had made the biggest impact on how she now approaches her life and career. “Their laughter, their love, their simple presence reminded me that life’s most powerful moments are often the ones that are not on any schedule or résumé.”
She hopes to carry that mindset into the year ahead. “As I step into the new year, my biggest goal is not just to achieve more, but to feel more, to savor the journey, celebrate the small things, and embrace the people and moments that make all the hard work worthwhile.”
One of those moments came when she got to share the stage with her seven-year-old daughter, Julia, for the first time. Julia danced as a little ballerina and an angel in The Nutcracker during Houston Ballet’s winter run. “Seeing her smile, witnessing her excitement, and watching her experience the beauty of this career at such a young age filled me with a joy I can’t fully describe,” she said.
Although the mother-daughter duo might have another opportunity to dance together in 2026, González is focused on the productions in front of her. She will appear in Broken Wings, Dances at a Gathering, and Giselle, three works that offer different challenges and artistic opportunities.
“From the moment I saw a short clip of Broken Wings online, I knew that portraying such an iconic role, one that carries so much cultural and emotional weight, combined with Annabelle’s intense and powerful choreography, would be a truly unique experience for everyone involved,” she said. “Portraying Frida Kahlo is an immense honor, but it also carries a profound responsibility. She was not only one of the most groundbreaking artists of her time, but she was a woman who broke every woman's expectations and redefined culture.”
She also recognizes the significance of representing a Latina onstage during such a culturally difficult time. “Performing Frida will feel like a very proud opportunity to use arts as an example of resilience, a message of strength, a message that we are good people ready to work and to represent, and that with our self-expression we will continue to inspire others,” said González.
Her awareness extends beyond the stage lights. González has spent the past several years preparing for the eventual transition from performer to cultural arts leader. She earned her degree and founded Voices of Arts Central, a nonprofit that creates opportunities and access for others.
“I have been learning and experiencing everything it takes to create an environment of possibilities and opportunities for others,” she said. “Through this work, I am learning so much about the administrative side of the arts, programming, fundraising, planning, organizational structure, accounting, marketing, and scheduling. My goal has always been to open as many doors as possible so that when the time comes, I am ready and confident to step into any role that comes my way.”
Even with her exhausting schedule, González is clear about what matters most. As a mother of two, she understands the rare balance she has achieved. She is grateful for the chance to fully commit her energy to her family and career equally.
“Now, as a mother, I remind myself that I am making a conscious choice to be here, and it is truly a blessing to live the best of both worlds,” she said. “So why not go out there, enjoy, and savor every second, as if it were my last.”
I learned that being present isn’t about slowing down ambition, but it’s about enriching it.
I want to show young dancers that their differences are their strengths. I want them to feel confident chasing their dreams without fear, without doubt, and without apologizing for who they are.