Zimmi Coker

Zimmi Coker was born in Dallas, Texas, lived in Manitou Springs, Colorado for six years, and now lives in New York City where she attends American Ballet Theatre’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School. Zimmi, 15, began her ballet training with her mother, Michele Coker, at the age of 10. Zimmi has danced the roles of Diamond Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Spring Fairy in Cinderella, and the Lead Female variation in Paquita. She has also performed the roles of Clara, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. In 2013, Zimmi competed in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competition in Denver, Colorado, winning the YAGP award performing Raymonda’s Vision. In 2014 Zimmi received first place and a scholarship in the Denver Ballet Guild Junior Category while also winning the Florence Ruston Medallion for overall excellence. The Ruston Medallion (named for the founder of the competition) is given to the competitor who exhibits overall excellence in dance throughout the competition.  In October 2014, Zimmi danced in the World Premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Rondo Capriccioso at the David Koch Theater as part of American Ballet Theatre’s Opening Night Gala for their performance season. A month later, Zimmi traveled with her class level to Russia where she represented the ABT JKO School in performances at the Bolshoi State Academy and Astrakhan State Theatre as part of the Premio Roma Jia Ruskaja. Zimmi danced the Tarantella in Tudor’s Soiree Musicale and the principal role in Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie.