Marcela Figueroa

Born in Santiago, Chile, Marcela Figueroa moved to Caracas, Venezuela, at a young age, beginning her ballet studies at the The Gustavo Franklin School of Ballet. Graduating with honors in 1986, she joined the National Ballet of Caracas, under Vicente Nebrada, where she became a principal dancer working with ballet masters Vladimir Issaev, Zane Wilson, Madame Nina Novak, and others, and performing leading roles in Swan Lake, Coppelia, Firebird, Romeo and Juliet, Paquita, Apollo, Serenade, Concerto Barocco, and more. Recognized internationally as a strong and expressive dancer, Figueroa received a national award for “Best Interpretation of the Year” in the title role of George Sand, choreographed by Vicente Nebrada. She also danced as principal with the Ballet Nacional de Venezuela, working with Irina Ivanova and Maestro Roumen Rachev.

In 1992, she received her diploma as ballet teacher, choreographer and coach at the Ballet Ruso Irina Ivanova, Figueroa and moved to the U.S. She furthered her ballet studies with Wilhelm Burmann, dancing with Connecticut Ballet, Dance Galaxy, Columbia City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet Theater, Omaha Theater Company Ballet, Montgomery Ballet, Western Ballet Theater of Puerto Rico, Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico, and Dance Alive.

Figueroa has worked Cynthia Gregory in Paquita, Jose Manuel Carreno as her partner in Giselle, and was in the original cast of Stanton Welch’s Orange. She also worked with Judy Fugate and Medhi Bahiri as Directors of Dance Galaxy.