"My dream was to create a ballet company and academy reflective of our wonderul diverse city that utilizes the untapped talent existing in every community in Los Angeles. The City of Angels Ballet is well on its way to making this dream come true!"

Our founder and Artistic Director, Mario Nugara, is regarded as a teacher of unparalleled talent in the Los Angeles area. Trained at Balanchine's School of American Ballet, he has danced with our nation's most prestigious companies. As a student, he danced with the New York City Ballet. He has also danced professionally as a company member with the Boston Ballet and the Fort Worth Ballet, and has danced on Broadway with Rudolph Nureyev. He has also served as guest artist for the American Ballet Company, the Eglevsky Ballet, and the New Jersey Ballet.

Selected as a Fulbright Scholar in 1991, Mr. Nugara studies in Copenhagen, Denmark in conjunction with the University of Copenhagen and the Royal Danish Ballet. During that time, he taught at the Royal Danish Ballet, Culberg Ballet, Ballet Academy of Stockholm, Sweden, and at the New Danish Dance Theatre, the Marie Brolin - Tani Dance Theatre, and Dansens Hus. He has extensive teaching experience in the New York and Los Angeles Metropolitan areas. Mr. Nugara also holds a BFA and MFA from New York University's Tisch School of Arts.