Mary Carmen Catoya

Principal Dancer

Mrs. Catoya was born in Venezuela and began her training with the Youth Ballet of Venezuela; later on she danced with the Contemporary Ballet of Caracas, the Cleveland Ballet and as a Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Caracas. Between 1988 and 1998, Mrs. Catoya danced extensively at many dance festivals abroad including an International Gala before the King and Queen of Spain, the inauguration of the Simon Bolivar Theatre in Brazil and the Gala of Stars at the International Festival on Santander, Spain. She has received two awards for her contribution to the arts in her home country Venezuela, ͞Premio Casa del Artista͟ as classical dancer of the year and ͞Premio Municipal de Danza 2002͟ as best dancer. In 1999, she became a Principal Dancer with the Miami City Ballet where she remained for sixteen successful years. In 2008, she was invited to perform at the Marinski Theatre in Saint Petersburg, Russia, that same year, she performed at the Orlando Competition Gala of Stars and later on with Taras Domitro in Queretaro, Mexico and more recently with Rolando Sarabia at the Fire Island Festival in New York. Currently, Mrs. Catoya dances as guest principal dancer with the Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida.