Sarah Lane and her husband, Luis Ribagorda, are proud parents to Cora and Maya. Sarah, a lifelong cat lover, grew up in the countryside with both dogs and cats. Their first dog, Tehya, sparked their love for dogs and was the start of their family in New York City. After losing Tehya suddenly, Sarah was inspired to honor her memory by giving other animals a better chance. In 2024, she made her dream a reality by founding Dance for Paws. Tehya, which means “precious,” lives on through Sarah’s mission, reminding us of the value of every homeless animal.

 

Sarah's dance journey began in Memphis, Tennessee, under the direction of Pat Gillispie at the Memphis Classical Ballet. When her family moved to Rochester, New York, she continued instruction with Timothy Draper and Jamey Leverett at the Draper Center for Dance Education. Consequently, she performed numerous roles in productions by Rochester City Ballet.

 

When Lane was 16, she received a full scholarship to the Boston Ballet's Summer Program. In 2000 and 2001, she was awarded first place and the Capezio Class Excellence Award at the North American Ballet Festival. In 2002, Lane was a National YoungArts Foundation Winner in Dance/Ballet, and through YoungArts became a 2002 U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Lane was the Silver Medalist, the highest medal in the Junior Division, at the Jackson International Ballet Competition (2002). During the competition, she traveled to Washington, D. C. to perform as a Presidential Scholar in the Arts at the Kennedy Center. Lane also won the Bronze Medal at the Youth America Grand Prix Competition that same year.

 

Lane joined American Ballet Theatre’s studio company in 2002, working her way to becoming Principal Dancer in 2017 and dancing with the company for 18 years.

 

Lane was a recipient of the Princess Grace Award in 2007 and the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship in the Arts in 2008. She was the dancing double for Natalie Portman in Fox Searchlight Pictures' feature film Black Swan. She has been featured in many periodicals, including Dance Teacher, Glamour, Elle, Pulp, Interview, Timeout, Dance and Pointe magazines. Lane has written essays for the Wall Street Journal Online, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, and Dance Spirit Magazine. 

 

Lane is currently an international guest artist who has performed with numerous ballet companies worldwide, including Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Teatro dell’ Opera di Roma, Kremlin Ballet, Barcelona Ballet, and Hong Kong Ballet. Sarah is also an international guest ballet teacher certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum. She has taught for numerous educational institutions, including Kansas City Ballet School, the ABT William J. Gillispie School, LakeCities Ballet Theatre, The Washington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School, Colorado Ballet Academy, American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Skidmore College, Santa Fe College, Kean University, New York Dance Alliance, and Steps on Broadway. She has worked as a guest rehearsal director for American Repertory Ballet and as a school director. Sarah is a certified Gyrokinesis instructor and a certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. She is an alumna of the Harvard Crossover into Business Program and holds her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, summa cum laude.