Mont Royal Ballet Academy
3785 Rue Jean-Talon O H3R 2G4 Mont-Royal, QC, Canada

Character Dance explained by our wonderful teacher Ms. Menon In classical ballet performances, there is a section of the evening that is dedicated to the folk dances of the world. These dances interrupt the plot and make a flamboyant appearance. Together they are referred to as Character Dances: Swan Lake has the Hungarian Dance; Coppelia has a Czardas; Nutcracker has it’s famous Russian Dance. During a time when people couldn't travel very easily, character dances gave a... clear sense of a different country's culture. In the ballet world, character dance is understood as folk dancing performed by highly trained ballet dancers. Over the centuries, many character dance movements have become a standardized requirement in a ballet dancer’s vocabulary. Training in character dance is a separate dance discipline in all world-class professional ballet schools. The character dance class follows a structure similar to a ballet class; first barre and then centre. Character dance classes enhance a ballet dancers training by stressing dynamics, rhythm, stamina, port de bras and flexibility. Character dance emphasizes an expressive quality and charm. Young ballet dancers love the movement and wearing the heeled character shoes and boots.

Introducing our Guest Teachers - Ballet & Repertoire Mi Deng is the artistic director of Mi Ballet School and a registered teacher of Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). She is a well-known worldwide guest ballerina and principal dancer, having danced with many famous ballet companies, such as: Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, La La La Human Steps, The Tulsa Ballet, The National Ballet of China and The Ballet company of Yokohama.... At an early age, Mi won the prize of the International Ballet Competition of Shanghai. She later graduated from The Beijing Dance Academy, and had an outstanding and successful international dance career. She has worked with worldwide stars such as Diana Vishneva, Bernice Copietters, Aurelie Dupont, Marijn Redmaker, Denis Savin, among many others. She has also worked with very acknowledged and talented choreographers such as Jean-Christophe Maillot, Jiri Kylian, Hans Van Manen, Roland Petit, Edouard Lock, Edward Clug, Andre Prokovsky, Christopher Wheeldon, Natalia Makarova and others. Mi has performed many main roles in full length classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, Cinderella among others. She has also performed different neo-classical and modern pieces such as Lac, Serenade, Faust, Chore, Le Songe, Theme and Variations, The Four Temperaments, The Concert, Carmen, The Black Tuesday, Altro Canto etc. Mi has a great passion for teaching and uses her dancing experience to develop the ultimate ability of each and every one of her students, so they can build the most delightful dance career in future. Darian Volkova @darianvolkova @dengmimi

Ready for an extra challenge this summer? Our 4-week Summer Intensive gives ballet students the opportunity to refine their technique, build stamina & strength and to develop a unique artistry. Apply today [email protected] - Or call us at 514 737 7676 for more information! All auditions are virtual!!!

Introducing our Artistic Director & teacher -Ü - Ballet, Russian Floor Barre & Contemporary Sandra Castro-Mühlbauer is a principal dancer, international guest artist and choreographer.... The Austrian ballerina received her ballet education at the Conservatory in Vienna under the direction of International Ballet Star Karl Musil and Prima Ballerina Evelyn Teri. At the young age of 15 Sandra competed at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne and received a contract offer from Les Ballets De Monte Carlo under the direction of Jean Christophe Maillot. A few weeks later she was also offered a contract at the Vienna State Opera Ballet under the direction of Renato Zanella and she decided to start her career in her hometown Vienna. Sandra won many prizes at international ballet competitions such as the Nureyev Competition, the Serge Lifar Competition, Fouette Artek, ÖTR Contest International and many more. She worked together with acknowledged artists and choreographers such as Edouard Lock, Vladimir Malakhov, Patricia Neary, Diana Vishneva, Rafael Avnikjan, Renato Zanella and Evelyn Teri. Sandra has danced for well-known companies such as Lalala Human Steps, the Vienna State Opera Ballet, the Slovak National Theatre, the world-famous Lido in Paris and many more. Sandra toured the world dancing the leading roles in Paquita, La Sylphide, New work and Bolero. Her favorite roles include Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Gamzatti in La Bayadère, Myrta in Giselle and Aegina in Spartacus. In 2017 Sandra opened the Ballet School Tutu Deluxe together with her husband in Montreal, and since then she travels internationally as guest teacher and adjudicator at ballet competitions. She also choreographs the ballet performance at the yearly, most prestigious event Viennese Ball of Montreal. Sandra is also the founder & director of the @elegance_online_competition which premiered successfully in 2020 with competitors from more than 20 different countries. Kanyo Bela @sandra.tutudeluxe

Introducing our teachers - Ballet, Repertoire & Flexibility Diego F. Castro is a principal dancer and international guest artist. He started his ballet education in Colombia and Cuba. Then Diego moved to the United States and studied at different ballet schools such as the school of ABT, Joffrey Ballet School and SAB. He worked together with extremely acknowledged artists such as Mikhail Baryshnikov, Elena Tschernischova and Eleanor dAntuono. Diego has dan...ced for internationally well-known companies like Les Grand Ballet Canadiens, Lalala Humansteps, the Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet and many more. Diego’s favorite roles include the cavalier in The Nutcracker, the Prince in Swan Lake and the Slave in Le Corsaire. In 2017 Diego opened a Ballet School together with his wife Sandra in Montreal. Mr. Castro is also the managing director of the @montroyalballetacademy. (c) @ilia_khodos_photography