Chiara Valle joined The Washington Ballet as a trainee in 2016, starting at the same time that Julie Kent came on board as Artistic Director. Only a few months into her time at TWB, she started experiencing severe pain high up in her femur.
Chiara assumed that the pain was related to a dance injury, but scans showed she had a tumor. A noninvasive procedure relieved the pain, but it returned after a couple of months. She had the surgery again, and the pain once again returned.
After a year, Valle went for a second opinion at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in New York City. In February 2018 she received the diagnosis: Ewing sarcoma, a rare bone cancer.
View the videos below and read more about Chiara’s inspiring story of strength, perseverance, determination, and triumphant return to the studio and stage with The Washington Ballet.
More about Chiara’s journey:
- Dance Magazine: This Dancer Almost Lost Her Leg to Cancer. Now She’s Heading Back to The Washington Ballet
- CBS New York: Doctors Save Young Ballerina’s Life, Career With Personalized Cancer Treatment
- The Epoch Times: How a Positive Attitude Helped Ballerina Fight Cancer
- Wings for Ewing Sarcoma: My Story