Mary Carmen Catoya
Featured Dancer
Born in Venezuela, Mrs. Catoya began her training at the age of 6 in Caracas at Everest Mayora Studio and began her professional career at the age of 13. She danced with the Youth Ballet of Venezuela, the Contemporary Ballet of Caracas, the Cleveland Ballet and as a principal with the National Ballet of Caracas, where she was coached and trained by Ballet Master Vladimir Issaev.
Ms. Catoya dance as a principal at the Miami City Ballet from 1999 to 2015. Her repertoire includes works of George Balanchine, Vicente Nebrada, Dennis Nahat 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.
Ms. Catoya 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.
In 2004, Ms. Catoya performed for the opening of “Queen Mary 2” Ship Gala. She dances principal roles in nineteenth and twentieth-century.
In August 2005 Ms. Catoya was invited to dance “Una noche con Tamara Rojo” in Madrid, Spain.
In October 2006 Ms. Catoya danced the full-length ballet Don Quixote, to open the Carnival Center Performance art Center now Arsht Center in the city of Miami.
In 2008 Ms. Catoya was invited by Dennis Matvienko to perform in his own Gala Night at the Mikhailovsky Theater in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
In 2009, Ms. Catoya was invited to dance at the Orlando Competition Gala of the Stars. In June of 2009, she performed with Taras Domitro in Queretaro, Mexico and with Rolando Sarabia at the Fire Island Festival in New York City repeating such honors in 2015 with Kleber Rebello.
In July 2011 Ms. Catoya opened and closed Les etes de la Danse at the theatre du Chatelet in Paris with Miami City Ballet dancing the principal role in Balanchine’s Ballet Imperial.
Ms. Catoya have been coached and trained by remarkable artists such as Jose Pares, Vicente Nebrada, Vladimir Issaev, Rafael Portillo, Zane Wilson, Karemia Moreno, Elena Madan Vera at the Ballet Nacional de Caracas, Dennis Nahat at Cleveland Ballet, Ileana Lopez, Violette Verdy, Jean Pierre Frohlich, Maria Cagliari, Mary Ashley and Edward Villella at Miami City Ballet.
Ms. Catoya has been invited as a guest artist in Spain, Brazil, China, United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, Canada, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Mexico, Bosnia, Curacao, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba and Argentina.
Most recently Ms. Catoya performed with Kleber Rebello and Paulo Arraiz at the Ballet Now The Latin Stars Gala in Los Angeles conducted by Hernan Cornejo and Roberto Bolle.
Ms. Catoya has been invited by Vladimir Issaev to join Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida as a principal dancer for the 2015-2016 Season. For the opening of the season she danced pricipal role of Laurencia, in Laurencia Grand Pas, Kitri in Don Quixote Grand Pas and guest choreographer Alberto Mendez staged for her a new version of his ballet Suite Generis and renamed Eros Game.