IVY CHUNG
Artistic Director, Ivy Chung School of Ballet, Hong Kong and Asia Ballet Academy in Malaysia.
Ivy started her professional ballet training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 1989. In 1993, Ivy graduated as an honorary student with Highest Distinction in her class, and she was awarded the Overseas Scholarship by Hong Kong Jockey Club Music and Dance Fund. She has earned a Master's  degree of Business Administration and she was appointed as Associate Executive Director of the Kirov Academy of Ballet Washington DC.
She began her career as a professional dancer in the Universal Ballet Company of Korea, Ontario Ballet Theater and the Hong Kong Ballet. She worked with various famous ballet artists: Galina Kekisheva, Roy Tobias, Stephen Jefferies, Wayne Eagling, Galina Ulanova etc. She was also awarded the Favorite Dancer Award thrice by the Friends of Hong Kong Ballet. She has been invited as a ballet teacher and choreographer internationally and she has been awarded numerous times.
She founded the Star of Canaan Dance International Ballet Competition, which is supported by the American Ballet Theater , Arts Ballet Theater of Florida , Royal Ballet School, the English National Ballet School, Elmhurst Ballet School, Orlando Ballet School, Kirov Academy of Ballet Washington DC, the Universal Ballet Company of Korea, the Shanghai Dance School , the Vassiliev Academy of Classical Ballet , the Ballet Centre of Fort Worth , the School of Cadence Ballet in Canada , Cheng Ballet in Singapore and Soki Ballet School in Japan.  She is also the founding director of the Asia Ballet Academy in Malaysia. 

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Ms. VICTORIA SCHNEIDER
Ballet Faculty, The HARID Conservatory
Victoria Schneider studied with Fred Danieli at the School of the Garden State Ballet in New Jersey. She danced professionally with the Garden State Ballet as a soloist, and with the Pennsylvania Ballet. She then taught at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, before moving to Italy where she worked as principal teacher at La Scuola di Danza Classica in Florence.
After returning to the United States, she established the School of the Tampa Ballet and served as ballet mistress of the Tampa/Colorado Ballet. Ms. Schneider studied the teaching syllabus of Russian Classical Ballet with her late husband, Jurgen Schneider, and with Janina Ciunovas. In addition, she completed the two-year pedagogy program at the Vaganova Academy of Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Her students have won major awards in numerous ballet competitions and can be found dancing in major ballet companies in the United States and abroad. Ms. Schneider has served as a jury member for the Japan Grand Prix and Taiwan Grand Prix ballet competitions since their inception. She remains active as a guest teacher.

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MIAO ZONG 
Ballet de l'Opéra National du Rhin (France) &  The Art East Association
Miao Zong was born in Beijing (China), he began studying ballet at the age of 13 at the Beijing Dance Academy, in August 1993, he obtained his degree and later that year was invited to join Le Jeune Ballet de France. During his 20-year international career, Miao Zong has danced as a soloist with The National Ballet of Caracas in Venezuela under Mr. Vincente Nebrada’s leadership, Ballet Theatre du Capitole in Toulouse  under the direction of Nanette Glushak, and Boston Ballet in the United States, before joining Ballet de l'Opéra National du Rhin in 2004. He has also been a guest dancer with  National Ballet of China and Chemnitz Ballett in Germany. His repertoire includes many leading classical, bro classical an contemporary roles.
He has also participated in numerous ballet galas, dancing alongside such world-renowned stars as the Paris Opera's Patrick Dupond, Marie-Claude Pietragalla and Cyril Atanassof.
In 2004 he made his choreographic debut with  Le Chant de Dieu, at Boston Ballet. He was later invited by New York City Ballet and New York Choreographic Institute to create a new piece for the School of American Ballet -He was nominated as assistant to the artistic director of Ballet de l'Opera National du Rhin. He gives classes to the company dancers and is also guest professor at the Conservatory of St. Louis in France.

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MR. KENICHI SOKI
Kenichi Soki is the Artistic Director of SBS Youth Ballet and head of Soki Ballet School Sendai Japan.
Soki successfully joined Universal Ballet Company in 1986 as the youngest dancer to ever enter the Company, at the age of sixteen. He has performed internationally in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan with Evelyn Hart, Patrick Bissel, Jean Charles Jill.
In 1990, Soki transferred to Hong Kong Ballet as a soloist. In 1991, Soki joined Ballet des Salzburger Landestheater, Austria and performed as a soloist in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, and other European nations. Soki relocated to Japan in 1996 and in 1997, he had signed a contract with New National Theatre Ballet in Tokyo. He performed the company’s repertoire as a soloist. That same year, he opened Soki Ballet School. Along with the performances in New National Theatre Ballet, he has participated in shows of the Japan Ballet Association Young Ballet Festival, Aoyama Ballet Festival, Takeuchi Hitomi Ballet Company, NBA Ballet Company, Inoue Ballet Company, Kobayashi Noriko Ballet Theatre. In 2012, he was selected as an international jury member for the International Ballet Competition Varna.

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ELISABETTA HERTEL

Accademia Internazionale Coreutica, Artistic Director, Italy
Born and raised in Torino, Italy, she trained for two years at the Scuola del Teatro Nuovo Torino under the direction of Loredana Furno and with Claire Jahier at Scuola di Danza Bella Hutter Torino. In 1979 she joined the ”Academie de Dance Classique Princess Grace” , Monaco, under the direction of Marika Besobrasova where she remained until she obtained the Professional Dancer Diploma in 1984. Joined the STUTTGART BALLET in 1984 first under the direction of Marcia Haydée (till 1996) then under the direction of Reid Anderson (till 1998), extensively touring in Europe, Israel, U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Korea, Hong-Kong, China, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela and Uruguay In July 1999 she graduated, in London, as a Classical Ballet Teachers (P.D.T.C. R.A.D.) with Distinction. In July 2000, she created the “Intensive Summer Course for ballet students, teachers and professional dancers” In September 2002, she founded and since directs the Accademia Internazionale Coreutica, in Florence, Italy. Under her direction, the Academy hasgrown to become known internationally and established partnerships around the world with renowned ballet competitions (such as W.B.C. in Orlando; VKIBC in New York; Tanzolymp in Berlin, SiciliaIBC, MiamiIBC) and dance educational institutions.
Ms. Hertel is regularly invited to take part as Jury in International Competitions, in Italy and abroad. 

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JENNIFER KRONENBER

Founding Artistic Director of Dimensions Dance Miami and formerly principal dancer of Miami City Ballet from 2001-2016.

She has written a “From the Heart: Why I Dance” essay, published in DANCE Magazine’s April 2011 issue, the first edition of her book entitled “So, You Want to be a Ballet Dancer?” has been published electronically by Diversion Books, and the second edition has been published in paperback by The University Press of Florida. In addition, she currently serves on the Advisory Board for Florida’s own World of Dance Magazine. Ms. Kronenberg was a regular faculty member of the Miami City Ballet Summer Intensive Program, and has been an invited guest teacher with numerous schools throughout the United States and abroad.

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ROBERT PARKER

Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School.

He trained at the Royal Ballet School and joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1994 then under the directorship of Sir Peter Wright. He became a Principal dancer in 1999 where he collaborated with Artistic Director and acclaimed choreographer David Bintley to create many leading roles for the company. He made guest appearances with the Royal Ballet and performed in many Galas around the world. His accolades include a Critics Circle Dance Award nomination and an Olivier Award nomination in 2001 and a Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Male Artist in 2003.
After retiring from Birmingham Royal Ballet he passed his RAD Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with distinction and completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy in Education. Robert became Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School in 2012. That same year he was appointed President of the London Ballet Association. He is regularly invited to adjudicate and deliver Master classes at various International Ballet Competitions around the world.

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MARY CARMEN CATOYA

Principal Dancer, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida 
Prima ballerina of Miami was born in Venezuela. She began her training at the age of six in Caracas and began her professional career at the age of 13. She danced with the Youth Ballet of Venezuela, the Contemporary Ballet of Caracas, Cleveland Ballet and as a principal with the National Ballet of Caracas, where she was coached and trained by Ballet Master Vladimir Issaev. She danced as a principal at the Miami City Ballet from 1999 to 2015. Her repertoire includes works of George Balanchine, Vicente Nebrada, Dennis Nahat, Alberto Mendez and Vladimir Issaev. Ms. Catoya has danced extensively abroad at many festivals and galas, including an international gala before the King and Queen of Spain, the inauguration of the Theater Simon Bolivar in Brazil, Dance Aspen, and the Gala of Stars at the Festival International de Santander.  She has also dancer at the Gala Night at the Mikhailovsky Theater in Saint Petersburg, Russia and at the Orlando Competition Gala of the Stars.
In July 2011 she was the prima ballerina for Les etes de la Danse at thetheatre du Chatelet in Paris with Miami City Ballet.
She received the award "Premio Casa del Artista" as Best Classical Dancer of the Year in 1999  and Premio Municipal de Danza 2002 as best dancer. Most recently she performed in Poland, Mexico, Peru and Indonesia next to her ballet master Vladimir Issaev.

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CYNTHIA RIDLER
Principal faculty at the Ballet West Academy in Salt Lake City

she enjoys teaching all age levels and working as the rehearsal assistant to the Children’s Ballet Mistress with the company of Ballet West.  Cynthia was born in Anchorage, Alaska but trained in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She feels privileged to have worked one on one and extensively with the founder of Ballet West, Willam F. Christensen as well as training on scholarship with master teachers Denise Schultze, Louis Godfrey and Elaine Thomas.  As a student Cynthia attended the summer intensives of Pacific Northwest Ballet and Aspen Ballet on full scholarship before receiving the Willam F. Christensen Ballet Scholarship to attend the University of Utah. Cynthia danced professionally with both Ballet West and the Cincinnati Ballet performing all the classical repertoire and many Balanchine ballets as well as the more contemporary pieces of Val Caniparoli, John Neumier, Kurt Peterson and Paul Taylor. Upon retiring from the stage she completed her degree in Psychology and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Cincinnati.  Cynthia has spent the last 20 years teaching, staging, coaching and rehearsing and has twice won Outstanding Teacher from the Youth American Grand Prix. Before relocating to Salt Lake City,  Cynthia worked for 9 years as adjunct faculty at Point Park University Conservatory of Performing Arts teaching both in the ballet and academic departments and with The Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. While an instructor in Pittsburgh, Cynthia had the pleasure of working directly with Garielle Whittle and Katrina Killian as representatives of the Balanchine Trust in the staging and rehearsing of several ballets from the New York City Ballet repertoire. 
She is very happy to be back as jury of the MIBC 2020.

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HEATHER FRYXELL

was born and raised in Florida where she received her early dance training with Thomas Armour.  Ms. Fryxell then danced with the Atlanta Ballet before joining Southern Ballet Theatre (currently Orlando Ballet) as a principal dancer. 
In 2000, Ms. Fryxell co-founded the Central Florida Ballet and the Ballet Academy of Central Florida. In 2005, Ms. Fryxell began teaching at Ballet West where she is a principal faculty member Heather Fryxell (formerly Heather Sanders) was born and raised in Florida where she received her early dance training with Thomas Armour.  Ms. Fryxell then danced with the Atlanta Ballet before joining Southern Ballet Theatre (currently Orlando Ballet) as a principal dancer. 
In 2000, Ms. Fryxell co-founded the Central Florida Ballet and the Ballet Academy of Central Florida. In 2005, Ms. Fryxell began teaching at Ballet West where she is a principal faculty member.
Ms. Fryxell has danced principal roles in all the great classics. Ms. Fryxell has had many award-winning students who have won top honors at national and international ballet competitions.

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NICOLAE VIERU

received his dance training and teaching at the National Ballet School in Bucharest. After graduating as Ballet Dancer, he took engagements at the Bucharest National Opera, and worked also for the National Theatre "Ion Dacian“  and the Romanian television ballet. In addition, he also taught at the National Ballet School and National Institute of Performing Arts and Theater (IATC) in Bucharest. He was principal dancer and ballet master State Theater Stendal in former East Germany.
1991 he founded in Schweinfurt, West-Germany his own ballet school. 1994, Nicolae Vieru founded one of the first private contemporary dance companies in Romania.
He was Jury member for the World Ballet Competition (USA), the international dance competition Tanzolymp (Berlin), ÖTR Wien international Ballet Competition, Sorrento Danza Dance Competition (Italien) SEOUL International Dance Competition (Korea) and Global Dance Challenge in Vancouver (Canada). He is Guest Teacher of the ESRA University in Skopje and artistic director of the Ballet school in Schweinfurt and Murnau.

 

 

 

DAVID PALMER

Joined Rochester City Ballet in November, 2015 as Artistic Director. He previously served as the Associate Artistic Director of The Washington Ballet (TWB). He has been a force in the world of ballet for over thirty years as a Director, Choreographer and Principal Dancer. He has worked with many of today's other masters such as Paul Taylor, Juri Kylian, Lar Lubovitch, Christopher Bruce and William Forsythe.  In 1997 David founded Maximum Dance Company with Yanis Pikieris. During his nine years as artistic director, MDC presented works from both established choreographers and from Mark Morris, Maurice Bejart, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, Julia Adam, and Kevin O'Day. He danced with the Australian Ballet rising quickly to the soloist ranks. He then went on to dance as a Principal Dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. This is his second year honoring MIBC with his knowledge and presence.

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HSIENFA CHENG
Cheng Ballet Academy – Founder and Artistic Director and Youth Ballet Company – Artistic Director.
A prolific talented teacher and choreographer, Mr. Cheng has won countless Excellence Teacher, best Coaching and Choreography awards in worldwide, Mr.Cheng began his classical dance education at the National Taiwan Academy of Arts, where he was presented with the Honorable Ballet Dancer award from the National Taiwan Theatre. Mr. Cheng began his professional dance career with The Atlanta Ballet, and was principal dancer for The Ballet Contemporaneo de Caracas in Venezuela. In 1995, he joined Singapore Dance Theatre. Currently, he is the Artistic Director of Cheng Ballet Academy and its Youth Ballet Company.
Throughout his performance career, Mr. Cheng has danced a wide variety repertoire, including classical repertoire and others works of contemporary choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, Thierry Malandain.
Mr Hsienfa Cheng has made a name for himself and also been selected to be a dedicated jury member of numerous prestigious ballet competitions worldwide. A prolific and talented teacher and choreographer, Mr. Cheng has won countless Excellent Teacher awards.
Under Mr. Cheng’s guidance, his students have been awarded numerous medals in international competitions in 2019 including Youth American Grand Prix final NY, World Ballet Competition, Varna International Ballet Competition, Global Dance Challenge International, NBA Japan Ballet Competition, Japan Ballet Competition, International Bari Ballet Competition in Italy, Star of Canaan Dance IBC, Kyoto Passion du Ballet in Japan.

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Ms. KATHRYN MORGAN
Ballet dancer and Master teacher, former soloist of NYC Ballet and MCB.
She began studying ballet at age three at Mobile Ballet in Mobile, Alabama. Kathryn attended the summer program at the School of American Ballet in 2004 and enrolled as a full time student that fall.
She joined New York City Ballet as an apprentice in June of 2006 and became a member of the corps de ballet of the Company in February of 2007. In October 2009, Kathryn was promoted to soloist. She left the company due to an autoimmune illness in 2012. She has since regained her health and currently performs, teaches, and speaks around the country, runs a highly successful YouTube channel, podcast “The Kathryn Morgan Show”, writes a column for Dance Spirit Magazine, is the creator of the “Kathryn Morgan Scholarship “, “Kathryn Morgan Collection” and “Kathryn Morgan Haul“, and has been a judge and master teacher for renowned ballet competitions.
She joined Miami City Ballet  as a soloist for the 2019/2020 season. She is the recipient of the 2006 Mae L. Wien Award, 2006 Movado Future Legends Award, and the 2009 Janice Levin Award.

 

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KARINA GONZALEZ
The Houston Ballet Guild Principal Dancer.
Native of Caracas, Venezuela and a silver medal winner of the New York International Ballet Competition in 2007. She trained at the Gustavo Franklin Ballet School in Caracas, Venezuela and has danced professionally with Ballet National of Caracas and Tulsa Ballet, where she reached the rank of principal in 2007. Ms. González joined Houston Ballet as a soloist in 2010, and was promoted to principal dancer in 2013. She has danced principal roles by the world's foremost choreographers.
Ms.González has been a guest artist at the Gala International Colombia (2006) and at the New York International Ballet Competition's Gala (2009). She has also guested with Ballet Estable del Teatro Colon in Argentina, and she participated in the Career Transition For Dancers' 26th Anniversary Jubilee in New York City, New York and The Festival de Danza Cordoba in Mexico. In the summer of 2012, Ms. González performed in the International Ballet Gala in Malaysia and was invited as a guest artist with Michele Wiles and Charles Askegard's up and coming company Ballet Next at the Joyce Theater in NYC.
Ms. González has been featured on the cover of Pointe Magazine's February/March 2008 issue, Dance Magazine's November 2011 edition and A+C Houston Magazine's November 2011 edition.

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HANNAH BAUMGARTEN 

Dance Now Miami Founding Artistic Director,representative of the Joffrey Ballet School of New York. 

Hannah grew up between Santa Cruz, California, and Jerusalem, Israel where she began her dance training. Hannah received a B.F.A. from the Juilliard School in 1993 under the mentorship of Benjamin Harkarvy after attending the University of Utah Ballet Department under Conrad Ludlow, Bene Arnold and Janek Schergen. Hannah danced with Utah Ballet, Michael Uthoff DanceTheatre, Labyrinth Dance Theatre, William Adair and Dancers, Karen Peterson & Dancers, Momentum Dance Company, Giovanni Luquini & Dancers and Ballet Flamenco La Rosa. While at Juilliard, Hannah danced lead roles in the works of Master Choreographers such as Graham, Limon, Taylor, Sokolow, Harkarvy and Nikolais and had her choreography presented at venues in Lincoln Center. She is a Florida Choreographic Fellow; her work has been presented internationally on three continents and in 15 states and Baumgarten has taught throughout the US and abroad at institutions including Teatro Colon, Joffrey Ballet School, Mercyhurst, Cincinnatti Conservatory, NWSA  and Interlochen. She founded Dance NOW! Miami with Salterini in 2000, and has toured the US, Mexico, Central, South America and Europe. Hannah was Director of Dance at Dillard Center for the Arts in Ft. Lauderdale for 10 years and serves as faculty at  Miami Arts Charter School. Baumgarten is certified in Pilates through Core Dynamics and served as a grant panelist for State of Florida and Miami-Dade County. Baumgarten taught at the Interlochen Summer Camp for 15 years and the Joffrey Ballet School NY Summer Program since 2012 serving as master teacher and recruiter Nationally and Internationally. Mrs. Hanah will be offering acceptances and scholarships to its US based Ballet and Jazz/Contemporary 2024 Summer programs and possible acceptances to its New York based Trainee Programs.

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MYRNA KAMARA

Founder Director of BalletXtreme
Ms. Kamara received her early ballet training with Ellen Gniadowska and Peggy Lynne. After studying one year at the Washington Ballet School in D.C., she pursued her studies at the School of American Ballet in New York. From 1984 to 1989, Ms. Kamara was a member of the New York City Ballet where she danced roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Eliot Feld and Lar Lubovitch.
During the 1989-90 season Ms. Kamara danced in Bonn, Germany under director Youri Vamos, where the role of the Nubiana from Spartacus was created for her. In 1990, Ms Kamara joined Miami City Ballet working with director Edward Villella. Subsequently, she was promoted to principal ballerina. There she received critical acclaim for her performances in the Balanchine repertoire. Her final company contract was with Maurice Bejart from 1996-1999 in Switzerland. During this period she performed several of his ballets.
Miss Kamara has appeared as a guest artist throughout the United States and Europe. Some of her well-known performances were at the Arena di Verona for her notable and distinguishing performances working with Placido Domingo in Japan, performing Franco Zeffirelli’s “Aida” in Teatro alla Scala (Choregraphy Vladimir Vassiliev ), an evening event for Bulgari at Terme di Caracalla in Rome with Roberto Bolle and Andrea Volpintesta, Gala des Ètoiles in Luxembourg. Other tours included the Spoleto Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, the Leonide Massine Festival, South Africa, Portugal, Japan, and the Kennedy Center, to mention a few.
Myrna is an international guest teacher and coach for dancers , and ice skaters and has also been a jury member for the 2021 Prix de Lausanne. In addition to all of this, Ms Kamara is the founder and performer of her own dance company, balletXtreme, a strong neoclassical contemporary ballet company performing works from diverse
internationally renowned choreographers.

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CLAUDIO MUÑOZ 

Houston Ballet II Ballet Master

Mr. Muñoz was ballet master at the School of Ballet of the Santiago Ballet in Chile in 1998. During his career as a dancer, he filled principal roles in Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, and New York, with a variety of choreographers, including W. Dollar, John Cranko, A. Rodriguez, George Balanchine, V. Nebrada, Ben Stevenson, L. de Layres, Ivan Nagy, and Ronald Hynd (in whose work (Rosalinda) he partnered the esteemed Russian ballerina Natalia Makarova). Mr. Muñoz also was involved in other forums for dance, such as Zarzuela, television, musical comedy, and opera. In 1989 he founded the Chamber Ballet of Santiago. Mr. Muñoz has taught classes and seminars in Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, and the United States. He has worked as an instructor for the Ballet Nacional de Chile, Ballet de Santiago, Ballet Nacional de Peru, and at schools in Asucion, Peru. Ballerinas coached by Mr. Muñoz have won the silver medal at the International Ballet Competition in 1990 and third place at the competition held in Shanghai in 1995. He was named "Best Teacher" at the Interdance Competition in 1996. Mr. Muñoz joined the staff of Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy in January of 1999.

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BETSY ERICKSON

San Francisco Ballet Ballet Master

Erickson joined SF Ballet as a dancer in 1964, performing at the Stern Grove Festival. Her formal dance training began on a Ford Foundation Scholarship at San Francisco Ballet School, where she studied with Lew Christensen, artistic director of the Company; Harold Christensen, director of the School; and Ballet Russe dancer Anatole Vilzak.

Erickson’s dancing career spanned 20 years at SF Ballet and American Ballet Theatre (ABT). Her repertory with SF ballet included principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, Jerome Robbins, and Michael Smuin; the central pas de deux in Lew Christensen’s Vivaldi Concerto Grosso was created expressly for her.

In 1992, Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson appointed Erickson as ballet master. A central member of the artistic team, Erickson has spent the past 28 years staging ballets and rehearsing hundreds of SF Ballet dancers. For each performance season, she has been responsible for coaching a vast range of a ballet’s components, from a principal pas de deux to a large corps de ballet ensemble. And after so many Nutcracker runs, she’s a whiz at the complicated casting of the magical “Snowflakes” and “Flowers” roles.

In addition to her deep ties to the Company dancers, Erickson has formed unique relationships with the choreographers she’s worked with over the years. In particular, she’s developed an eye for the choreography of Val Caniparoli, Lew Christensen, Mark Morris, Alexei Ratmansky, Jerome Robbins, Tomasson, and Christopher Wheeldon.

Erickson has also excelled in choreography, having received numerous awards and fellowships, including a California Arts Council Fellowship, six National Endowment for the Arts choreographer fellowships, and a National Dance Residency Program Grant. Outside of SF Ballet, her expertise is known internationally—she has traveled the world staging works on other ballet companies.

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FLAVIO SALAZAR

Maestro de The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre,

Ailey School en Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre, Adelphi University, y Marymount College.

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RUBEN MARTIN

Principal Teacher American Ballet Theatre JKO School 

Rubén Martín was born in Reus, Spain, and trained at Estudio de Danza de Maria de Avila. After dancing with English National Ballet for four years, he joined San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2000. He was promoted to Soloist in 2003 and to Principal dancer in 2006. In 2014, he became a Principal Character dancer with the Company, as well as a full-time endowed faculty member at San Francisco Ballet School. During his tenure as a dancer, Martín’s major roles included Albrecht in Tomasson’s Giselle, Prince Siegfried and Von Rothbart in Tomasson’s Swan Lake, Onegin in Cranko’s Onegin, Prince Desiré in Tomasson’s Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker Prince and King of the Snow in Tomasson’s Nutcracker. In addition, he performed works by a wide range of choreographers including George Balanchine, Mark Morris, Alexei Ratmansky, Jerome Robbins, Helgi Tomasson, and Christopher Wheeldon. Martín Cintas has performed as a guest artist with the National Ballet of Canada, and Dutch National Ballet among other leading companies worldwide. In addition, he has served as a guest teacher with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, The Washington Ballet, English National Ballet, National Ballet of Spain, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Smuin Ballet, Marin Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet.

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GLORIA BARRIOS

Directora Ejecutiva del Ballet Nacional de Panamá

Gloria Barrios nació en la Chorrera y realizó sus estudios de ballet en la Escuela Nacional de Danzas del INAC (Instituto Nacional de Cultura) y en la Escuela del Ballet Concierto Universitario del DEXA, con la Profesora Ginela Vásquez.

Inicia su vida profesional en la danza como miembro fundadora del Ballet Nacional de Panamá en 1972, en el INCUDE (Instituto Nacional de Cultura y Deportes). 

En 1974 participa en la re-apertura del Teatro Nacional, bailando como Solista al lado de Dame Margot Fonteyn, estrella del Royal Ballet de Londres, en “Les Sylphides” quien le consigue beca para estudiar en el Royal Ballet School de Londres y también la recomienda para realizar pasantías con los Ballets de Escocia, Atlanta y Houston. 

Fue Primera Bailarina del Ballet Nacional de Panamá del INAC (Instituto Nacional de Cultura y Deportes) por 15 años y representó a Panamá en Concursos en: Rusia, Japón, Estados Unidos, Brasil y Perú obteniendo 5 Medallas de Oro. Fue Primera Bailarina Invitada por Alicia Alonso del Ballet Nacional de Cuba y participó en Festivales y Galas Internacionales en: Cuba, Paraguay, República Dominicana y Costa Rica. Bailó en el Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas como Bailarina Principal y trabajó con reconocidos coreógrafos internacionales, participando en dicha compañía en giras internacionales a: Estados Unidos, España, Portugal, Alemania y Cuba. En el 2006 recibe la Orden al Mérito por la Alcaldía de la Ciudad de Panamá y en el 2009 recibió Orden Mérito al Trabajo del Gobierno de la República de Venezuela. Realizó Diplomado en Cultura y Desarrollo en la Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá y además se ha desempeñado en Gestión Cultural.

Ha sido jurado en Concursos en Panamá y Perú, para evaluar jóvenes promesas del ballet. Además, en el año 2019 fue invitada por el Royal Ballet de Londres a representar a Panamá en la Gala Centenario en Honor de Dame Margot Fonteyn.

Es miembro del Consejo Internacional de la Danza (CID) UNESCO y es representante del Ministerio de Cultura de Panamá ante la Plataforma Iberoamericana de Danza

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ETIENNE DIAZ

The Rock School for Dance -West, DIRECTOR

Etienne began his training at the Orlando Ballet School as the Founders’ Scholarship Award Recipient and, following graduation, attended Florida State University with a full scholarship.  Etienne danced in Teatrul de Balet Sibiu, Balletto del Sud, in Italy, Milwaukee Ballet in Wisconsin, and the National Opera of Bucharest in Romania where he performed many leading roles.  In 2014, Etienne joined Philadelphia Ballet, where he rose to the rank of demi-soloist dancing many leading roles. He has worked with renowned choreographers and distinguished artists including Fernando Bujones, Bruce Marks, Michael Pink, Vicente Nebrada, Alexei Ratmansky, Edward Clug, Johan Kobborg, Magaly Suarez, Nacho Duato, Matthew Neenan, Jiří Kylián, Fredy Franzutti, Christopher Wheeldon, Jean-Pierre Frohlich, and William Forsythe among others. 

Etienne resumed his business administration studies at Temple University where he graduated with honors. Additionally, he was on the faculty at Bryn Mawr College for two years and at Metropolitan Ballet Academy for eight years. Etienne has been part of the jury at the National Ballet Competition in Delaware and taught master classes for the World Ballet Competition for the past two years.

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MR. GENTRY GEORGE

Zest Collective Artistic Director Professor at New World School of Arts

George is a recipient of a Level 1 YoungArts award, and is featured on HBO’s “Masterclass,” also starring Jacques d’Amboise. In 2012 Gentry graduated from the Juilliard School and began dancing with Ailey II of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Later that year he was featured in the NY Post as “one of three men to watch in Ballet.” George was also a member of Lustig Dance Theatre, as well as the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the Direction of Virginia Johnson. In 2013 he founded Washington Heights NYC’s premiere dance company Zest Collective. In New York Zest has performed at SummerStage, The United Palace, HarlemStage Gatehouse Theater, The Wassaic Project, and Fort Tryon Park. In 2020 George relocated to South Florida and was appointed Rehearsal Director of Miami’s leading contemporary ensemble, the Peter London Global Dance Company. He now teaches at his Alma Mater New World School of the Arts (NWSA) in both the Dance and Musical Theatre Divisions.

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MS. WANG YAN

Founder & Artistic Director Yan Ballet Academy

Ms. Yan is a professional ballet teacher, training young talented dancers in Singapore at highly competitive levels. Her teaching methods are based on her 10 years’ experience as a leading soloist performer for the Shanghai Ballet Company. Ms. Yan is also a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance, graduating with a Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with Distinction. Her elite students are regularly seen winning ballet competitions held in Asia, including the first ever Singaporean Best Performance Award and gold medal in the Asian Grand Prix.

Ms. Yan has the honor of representing Singapore in The International Federation of Ballet Competitions. Ms. Yan is also the overseas ballet master for Shanghai Princess Ballet, Beijing Right Meeting Ballet and Xiamen Ballet School.

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MARIA TORIJA

BALLETMET Academy Director

the Academy Director at BalletMet, was born in Madrid, Spain. Dr. Torija began her ballet studies with Lola de Avila, Luis Fuentes and Carmen Roche. At the age of thirteen, she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study for three years at the School of American Ballet in New York. After a short stint with the Ballet Nacional de Espana Clasico, she began her 20-year career as a dancer with Staatsballett Berlin. During her time in Berlin, Maria performed in solo and principal roles in numerous Classical Ballets, including works choreographed by George Balanchine, Maurice Bejart, John Neumeier, William Forsythe, John Cranko, Jiri Kilian, Hans Van Manen, GlennTetley and Kenneth McMillan among others. 

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Ballet Teaching, and graduated summa cum laude with a Master's and PhD in Performing Arts from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, in Madrid. She also has an extensive teaching resume. Beginning with the Opera Ballet of Deutsche Oper Berlin, she has served as a faculty member at the Palucca Hochschule fur Tanz, Dresden, Coservatorio Profesional de Danza Madrid, Miami City Ballet and Marin Ballet among others. Maria has participated in seminars and has been invited to teach classes throughout Europe, Japan, Hong Kong and the United States. She also serves as a Jury member for several competitions in the United States. 

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TAI JIMENEZ

Dance Theatre of Harlem School Director

Tai Jimenez was a Principal Dancer with both the Dance Theatre of Harlem and Boston Ballet. Her repertoire included a range of classical, neo-classical and contemporary ballets. She was a guest artist with the New York City Ballet, Complexions, Lar Lubovitch, The Francesca Harper Project and others. She performed as Ivy Smith (Miss Turnstiles) in the Broadway revival of “On the Town,” was a featured dancer in the Oscars Academy Awards and performed with pop superstar, Prince. She teaches company class for the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater and has taught at numerous institutions including the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, Boston Ballet School and Harvard University. She was an Assistant Professor at the Boston Conservatory@Berklee. In addition to teaching ballet, Ms. Jimenez is devoted to the practice and teaching of yoga. Currently, she is the director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem School and honored to serve as a juror for this year’s Miami International Ballet Competition.

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TONG WANG

Associate Professor of Dance, University of California, Irvine

Artistic Director, East Meets West International Dance and music Festival

           

Following a successful career as a principal artist, Tong Wang has continued to devote his talents to the field of dance as a choreographer, dance professor and master teacher. In recent years, Tong’s creative works have continued to become notable internationally. While his choreographic works have received high praise from the nationally ranked dance departments of University of Utah, Butler University and University of California-Irvine, his work has also been performed by professional companies such as Ballet West, China Military Dance Ensemble, and Ballet Arkansas. His work “Chase” has been performed in the United States and China numerous times and was broadcast by China Central Television Station. “Qiu Yie” received the Outstanding Choreography Award at YAGP.  As a master teacher, Tong has taught internationally and nationally at National Ballet of China, Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet West, Beijing Dance Academy, Colorado Ballet, and National Choreography Initiative.

 

After graduating with honors from the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy Ballet department in 1986, Tong Wang performed as a principal artist with companies such as Shanghai Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and, most recently, Ballet West. He danced all the Romantic and Classical ballets and work by esteemed choreographers such as Balanchine, Ashton, Tudor, Hans Van Manen, Carnko, Culberg, just to name a few. Tong performed internationally and was featured in 2002 Winter Olympic Concert, Edinburgh Festival, and China International Dance Festival. While dancing professionally, Tong completed his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Ballet Teaching and Choreography with the University of Utah Ballet Department and also worked as a guest faculty member from 2000-2005. From 2005-2007, Tong served as Assistant Professor of Dance at Wright State University. He held the position of Dance professor at Butler University from 2007-2011. In fall 2011, Tong joined the distinguished Dance Department of University of California, Irvine. Currently serving as an associate professor, Tong is one of the creators and artistic directors for East Meets West International Dance and Music Festival from 2016 to present. Tong also serve on board of Pan American Chinese Dance Alliance, and the selection committee of the “My Heritage, My Dance”, a project to support and promote Chinese dance in higher education in the U.S. and abroad.

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ROBERTO FORLEO

Artistic Director of The Florida Ballet

Mr. Forleo was born in Bari, Italy and trained at Scuola di Balletto Classico Cosi-Stafanescu (Reggio Emilia-Italy) and at Ecole Atelier Rudra Béjart Lausanne (Switzerland), where he studied with Azari Plisetzki, Sulamith Messerer, Suzanne Farrell, David Howard, Colette Milner and Michel Gascard. Mr. Forleo has an extensive career working with numerous companies, including Grupo Corpo, Brazil, Bejart Ballet Lausanne,Switzerland, Rambert Dance Company, England, Malandain Ballet Biarritz, France, Les Ballets Grandiva, Japan and has toured internationally to six of the seven continents. Within these companies, Mr. Forleo performed an extensive repertoire in soloist and principal roles working closely with many choreographers such as Pedro Pederneiras, Maurice Bejart, Christopher Bruce, Thierry Malandain, Jiri Kylian, Mats Ek, Wayne McGregor, Christophe Garcia and Marie-Laure Agrapart. Mr. Forleo was principal dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo in NYC before moving to Maine in 2013.

Mr. Forleo is a graduate of the Centre National de la Danse Paris (France) as a certified ballet teacher and is also a certified ABT teacher (American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum) from Pre-Primary through level 7. He was the director of the CORPS program, the pre-professional program of Portland School of Ballet in Maine. He joined the faculty at Bates College (Lewiston, ME) in 2016 and until recently was the Artistic Director of Bangor Ballet in Maine and a full-time faculty member and principal dancer at Maine State Ballet. Mr. Forleo joined The Florida Ballet in August 2019 as Associate Artistic director and during his first year, choreographed Creatures of Prometheus in collaboration with the Jacksonville Symphony. Mr. Forleo has been appointed Artistic Director of The Florida Ballet in July 2020. Since then, he created may works for the company, including “A Midsummer Nights Dream” “Gaitee Parisienne”, “Entangled”, “Carmen”, “The Nutcracker”, and most recently his “Dracula” was performed at the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts with the Jacksonville Symphony."

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