Katia Garza
- Born in Piedras Negras Coahuila, Mexico.
- Began her training in Monterrey Mexico in the Escuela Superior de Musica y Danza de Monterrey graduating in 1995.
- The same year she joined Ballet de Monterrey and after 6 months became soloist and a year later principal dancer under the direction of Fernando Bujones.
- In 1997 was invited by the Compania Nacional de Danza in Mexico City to dance the ”Black Swan “ in their annual spring season of “ Swan Lake”.
- In 1998, performed as a guest Panama’s Ballet Company and start dancing in the Youth Ballet of Monterrey the same year.
- In 1999, was invited as a guest artist in Lexington Ballet Theatre in Lexington, Kentucky. The same years Katia won the silver medal in International Ballet Competition in Peru being the only medal that year being the only medal award that year.
- In 2000 got married with Israel Rodriguez and became principal dancer of Orlando Ballet.
- In 2001 represented Mexico in the “Jazz World Congress” on Gus Giordano.
- Katia was a finalist at the 2002 International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS.
- In 2004 Casa de Mexico and the Mexican Consulate in Orlando gave her an award for her contribution to the community and the arts in the city.
- She has the opportunity to be a guest teacher in Tokyo , Japan from 2006 to 2009. Performing in a International Gala in this country in 2009.
- In 2006 performed in Puerto Rico for the first time and is being coming back every year to perform and choreograph.
- In 2008 was a finalist at the “ Hispanic women award Ceremony” in Central Florida.
- In 2009 the Mexican Consul gave her the award “Angel de la Independencia” for hire with her art the Mexican community and being a model for them in Central Florida.
- In 2010 received the award of Outstanding Female in the Arts in the “Hispanic Women that make the difference” in Central Florida.
- She became American Citizen in 2011.
- She worked as a teacher and Principal Dancer at Orlando Ballet from 2000 to 2013.
- Her repertoire as a principal character includes Don Quixote, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, Cinderella, Corsario, Flames of Paris, La Bayadere, Firebird , La Vivandiere, Esmeralda, Arlequinade , Nutcracker, Sinatra Songs, Serenade,Who cares, Upper Room, Festival Fantasy, Balanchine Tarantela, among others.
- She has the opportunity to work as a choreographer in Ballet of Monterrey (Mexico), Youth Ballet of Monterrey, ESMD, Tallahassee Ballet, Franceschi Arts Academy ( Puerto Rico) Orlando Ballet, Orlando Ballet 2, Orlando Ballet School, Northwest Florida Ballet, Jackson Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, Corpus Christi Concert Ballet, Midland Festival Ballet (Texas), Russian Academy ( Sarasota),Studio 321 (Indiana), UNAM ( Mexico ), Company Taller Coreografico de la UNAM ( Mexico) and others.
- Some of her full length choreographies are Midsummer Night's Dream,The Little Mermaid, La Bayadere, Luca Bottleblue (Original Story ), Paquita, Corsaire 2nd act, Don Quixote, Raymonda, La Esmeralda, Giselle and since 2000 is being making neoclassical solos for competitions in USA.
- In October 2013 Katia left Orlando Ballet and start working as a free lance dancer and choreographer.
- Has the opportunity to be a judge for Ballet and Jazz Competitions in USA and Mexico.
- After 13 years out of her country., she was chosen as one of the most successful Mexican choreographers out of the country invited to choreographed a ballet the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico.
- After this opportunity and success her piece was elected as a repertory of the famous company Taller Coreografico de la UNAM.
- Right now she is working in more than 10 schools around the country choreographing and coaching students for Ballet Competitions.
- For years she has being choreographing and coaching students for Ballet Competitions in USA and out of the country like YAGP, ADC, World Ballet Competition, New York International Ballet Competition, Varna Competition, Jackson Mississippi Competition, Helsinki Ballet Competition, and others getting great recognition.
- Recently she won the Outstanding teacher award in Youth american Grand Prix Semifinals 2015 (Atlanta) and 2018 in North Carolina. With her students winning the Grand Prix, 1st and 2nd place in Contemporary and finalist with Ensemble. 2017 1st Place for Best Ensemble in Atlanta Semifinals with 1st and 2nd place in Contemporary Solos and in ADC with 3rd place for best Ensemble and all her choreographies getting Gold and Medallion scores.
- Katia had the opportunity to work and train privately with students that right now are Principal dancers, Soloist and Corps of Ballet in Houston Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Orlando Ballet and others.
- IRG productions made a documentary “Katia Garza My life in Dance” already premier in Mexico and USA an inspirational documentary that is available in itunes, amazon and katiagarzamovie.com
- Katia Garza grew up in a family that own a ballet school her mom had a ballet studio since she born and learned a lot from the experience of her mother. But in the professional ballet school she trained in the Cuban methodology for 8 years. When she started dancing professionally she learned the Vaganova style and Balanchine and now Katia is an ABT Certified Pre-Primary - Level 5. She has knowledge in Contemporary Graham and Limon. And she thought Jazz and Lyrical for many years.
- But her 22 years of experience as a professional Ballet Dancer and Ballet Teacher she understand that the student needs to be train in all styles and has to be ready for any kind of training. Each student needs personal attention because each body is different. So she will share all her knowledge with her students to make the grow as a dancers and help them to be ready for any audition, competition of professional career. Our training will focus on teaching the student to get stronger at jumps, turns and flexibility but more important to learn how to take care of their bodies for a long career.