(Photo: Spencer Heyfron)

What kind of dancer are you?
I do contemporary ballet. I used to be with a junior company of Alvin Ailey, but now I’m at a company in Frankfurt, Germany, where I’m from.

Dominique Rosales—doesn’t sound like a German name.
My father is originally from Cuba. My parents liked Dominique because it could be for a boy or a girl. Thank God I didn’t end up a Heidi.

Tell me about your hair.
It just naturally does this. I always want to chop it off, but I just can’t.

Isn’t your head really hot in this weather?
I have a great trick: peppermint oil. If you put it on your scalp, it’s so cooling and it lasts all day. When a slight wind comes through your hair … yes! I highly recommend it.

Interview by Emma Rosenblum

Related:

• Archive: “Look Book”
• Table of Contents: Aug 2, 2010 issue of New York | Subscribe!