Ivan Spitale

Sponsored by Christine Radiske and Herbert Quigley

Ivan Spitale was born in Torino, Italy. He began his ballet training at the age of 12 in his hometown. At the age of 15, he began studying under the renowned Pompea Santoro at EkoDanceSchool. Under her mentorship, Ivan’s talent quickly flourished, leading to his participation in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne in 2015, where he was awarded five scholarships from top international schools.  

Ivan then accepted a full scholarship to study at the Balletschule Theater Basel in Switzerland, under the direction of Amanda Bennett. There, he received rigorous classical and contemporary training, graduating in 2017. He then returned to Italy to further refine his technique and artistry at EkoDance Project, once again under the guidance of Pompea Santoro. During this period, he worked with celebrated choreographers including Alessio Di Stefano, Mauro De Candia, and Paolo Mohovich, and had the unique opportunity to study and perform works from the repertoire of the legendary Mats Ek. 

In 2018, Ivan joined Sarasota Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to Coryphée in 2020 and to Soloist in 2022.  During his time with the company, Ivan has performed an impressive range of repertoire, including works by George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, Dominic Walsh, Jessica Lang, Sir David Bintley, Twyla Tharp, and Sir Peter Wright. His expressive quality and technical finesse have made him a favorite among choreographers. Notably, Sir David Bintley created roles specifically for him in A Comedy of Errors and Spider’s Feast, showcasing Ivan’s versatility and compelling stage presence. 

Ivan joined Milwaukee Ballet Company in 2025.