Three of San Pedro City Ballet’s company members have been accepted on scholarship to prestigious performing arts schools in New York. The company’s mission is to identify, train, and promote a world-class pre-professional dance company.

Company members Enrique Anaya and Lauren Renee Ortega have been accepted on scholarship to the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in New York. The Joffrey Ballet School was founded in 1956 by Robert Joffrey, and is a world-renowned dance center offering versatile and high quality training. Danielle Ciaramitaro will attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) for college in the Fall. AMDA trains artists toward success in the world of the performing arts, and is located in Broadway’s backyard.

“We are so proud of our students,” said Cynthia Bradley, Artistic Director of San Pedro City Ballet and co-owner of San Pedro Ballet School. “They have focused hard on their training, and their drive and passion have led them to these wonderful opportunities.”

Ciaramitaro is a senior at San Pedro High School, Ortega is a sophomore at Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy, and Anaya is a senior at Humanities and Arts Academy of Los Angeles, graduating in June. He will move to New York immediately after graduation.

Anaya began training with Bradley in 2016. Bradley discovered ballet superstar Misty Copeland in 1995, who went on to become the first African-American Principal Dancer at the renowned American Ballet Theatre, and the most famous ballerina in modern times.

“Enrique posses all of the same qualities as Misty,” said Bradley. “He has the natural talent, the drive, and I hope to give him the opportunities to achieve as much success as Misty has found in the dance world.”

Anaya has only trained in ballet for one and a half years, but Bradley considers him a ballet prodigy, and has high hopes for his career as a professional dancer.

Locals can catch Anaya and Ciaramitaro in their last performances in the South Bay on Saturday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m. at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. Along with a variety of group dances, each will perform a solo in San Pedro Ballet School’s production “Viva Las Vegas!”

“Viva Las Vegas” features students ages 3 to adult, who will perform ballet, tap, jazz, modern, hip hop, and contemporary dance inspired by all things old and new Vegas. In addition, the show will feature San Pedro City Ballet company members in an exciting new work choreographed by Patrick David Bradley, as well as showcase students from the non-profit's acclaimed DancEd Steps Up outreach program.

Students interested in getting involved in dance, and training at Misty Copeland’s childhood dance studio, can attend classes year-round at San Pedro Ballet School. This summer, the school features beginning and advanced ballet training camps, as well as continuous classes in a variety of dance styles.

Company Members Receive Scholarships to Prestigious Dance Schools

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