Mariaelena Ruiz
~ Director of CBC's Professional Training Program
~ Ballet Master of Cary Ballet Conservatory
~ Artistic Director of Cary Ballet Company
Mariaelena Ruiz was a faculty member and rehearsal coach at The Rock School for Dance Education since 2001 when she was still dancing as a member of Suzanne Farrell Ballet. She became the Rock School's Ballet Mistress in 2006, Ruiz danced with SFB from 2001-2006 , where she performed an all Balanchine repertoire. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mariaelena began her early studies with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo’s Prima Ballerina , Nina Novak. under her tutelage she was coached and performed an extensive part of the classical repertoire, and, was trained by teachers from Kirov, Bolshoi ,Cuban and American training. At 14, she became the youngest member of the Ballet Nacional de Caracas, under the direction of Vicente Nebrada. At 15, she won 3rd place at the USA International Ballet Competition, in Jackson, junior division, and received a full scholarship to continue her studies at the School of American Ballet. She won the 3rd place and Best Couple award at the Varna International Ballet Competition and the Prix Volinine in Paris. She has danced principal roles with Bay Ballet Theater, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Carolina Ballet Theater, Ballet Hispanico, and has been a guest artist for many companies in the US and abroad. Ruiz has coached medalists for all the major competitions including Moscow IBC , Jackson USA IBC , Boston IBC , Prix de Lausanne, and Youth America Grand Prix. Ruiz has been a judge and guest teacher for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and has also worked with the New York International Ballet Competition. Mariaelena was featured in the award winning Documentary FIRST POSITION , and in the Local WHYY Documentary made about the first Curtis Institute Rock School Collaboration in 2009 , Mariaelena was the most recent recipient of the Curtis Institute of Music Collaboration, in 2015, performed at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. In 2016 Mariaelena was named outstanding teacher at the ADC International Ballet Competition
"I am so excited to start working with the beautiful dancers, and great faculty at CBC, having just gotten married, I am so looking forward to moving to Cary with my husband ,and starting this very exciting chapter in our lives as part of the CBC family. I look forward to continue to provide excellent training and pass on all my experience and knowledge to this amazing new group of dancers."